Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $50,880 -16% vs national
Median hourly $24.46
10th percentile $42,170
90th percentile $66,920
Employed locally 30
National median $60,560

Compare Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary & buying power

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Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
in
Durham, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $42,170
    25th
    $50,880
    50th (median)
    $50,880
    75th
    $50,880
    90th
    $66,920

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary vs area income 63% Median Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary is 37% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $140,660
    California $140,080
    Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $96,400
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,950
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $83,670
    Massachusetts $83,530

    Nearby metros — Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,950
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $56,300
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $54,000
    Asheville, NC $51,970
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $35,000
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $32,600

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Public Relations Specialists$65,860
    Coaches and Scouts$58,810
    Graphic Designers$60,310
    Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$33,450
    Technical Writers$100,660
    Editors$80,820

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Durham, NC is $24.46, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $32.17 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salaries?

    The median Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in Durham, NC is 16% below the national median of $60,560. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Durham?

    Entry-level Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (10th percentile) earn around $42,170 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,880.