Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in New York, NY-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Median annual salary $80,760 +33.4% vs national
Median hourly $38.83
10th percentile $42,960
90th percentile $142,700
Employed locally 710
National median $60,560

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

Type a city below to see how New York, NY-NJ stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
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New York, NY-NJ
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $42,960
    25th
    $61,270
    50th (median)
    $80,760
    75th
    $128,350
    90th
    $142,700

    New York economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $97,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary vs area income 83% Median Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary is 17% 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
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $80,070
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $67,010
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $57,290

    Related occupations in New York, NY-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Producers and Directors$106,730
    Public Relations Specialists$79,990
    Editors$99,220
    Graphic Designers$75,850
    Coaches and Scouts$58,400
    Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$43,490

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in New York, NY-NJ is $38.83, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $74.34 or more per hour.

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

    The median Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in New York, NY-NJ is 33.4% above 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 New York?

    Entry-level Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (10th percentile) earn around $42,960 per year in New York, NY-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,270.