National Salary Info » Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Highest Paying Industries for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

The top 77 highest paying industries for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $94,660, wholesale electronic markets and agents and brokers is the highest paying industry for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators. It is followed by software publishers industry (average annual salary $89,750). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 77 Highest Paying Industries for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$94,660	$57,770	n/a
2	Software Publishers	$89,750	$51,020	480
3	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$80,910	$62,350	90
4	Scientific Research and Development Services	$79,440	$56,820	n/a
5	Temporary Help Services	$75,510	$27,230	110
6	Employment Services	$73,790	$23,630	120
7	Administrative and Support Services	$71,610	$19,420	130
8	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$71,610	$19,420	130
9	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$70,150	$48,590	40
10	Engineering Services	$70,120	$44,500	30
11	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$69,950	$34,400	950
12	Health Care and Social Assistance	$67,370	$37,650	60
13	Wholesale Trade	$65,750	$34,460	320
14	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$64,790	$48,600	140
15	Information	$63,810	$29,720	1,940
16	Federal government, including USPS	$63,800	$49,510	140
17	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$60,410	$30,010	160
18	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$59,920	$33,650	100
19	Motion Picture and Video Industries	$59,160	$21,520	950
20	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$59,080	$21,560	960
21	Lime and Gypsum Product Manufacturing	$57,610	$48,340	n/a
22	Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers	$54,170	$26,820	480
23	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$53,610	$32,390	60
24	Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$52,580	$33,960	50
25	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$52,030	$17,530	1,380
26	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$51,730	$23,820	870
27	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$50,400	$31,440	700
28	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$50,010	$31,730	400
29	Federal, State, and Local Government	$50,010	$31,730	400
30	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$49,210	$25,140	90
31	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$48,890	$21,280	220
32	Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$48,520	$21,370	210
33	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$48,390	$29,310	360
34	Educational Services - State government owned	$48,260	$30,440	280
35	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$48,180	$33,260	60
36	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$48,020	$30,380	280
37	Newspaper Publishers	$47,820	$21,640	180
38	Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods	$47,240	$26,060	100
39	Amusement Parks and Arcades	$47,020	$29,590	140
40	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$46,390	$32,650	80
41	Manufacturing	$46,110	$22,880	850
42	Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$45,770	$31,620	40
43	State government, including schools and hospitals	$45,280	$31,240	370
44	Educational Services	$44,840	$22,800	680
45	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$40,860	$29,430	200
46	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$40,670	$31,450	80
47	Educational Services - Privately owned	$40,610	$21,370	390
48	Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers	$40,550	$23,430	40
49	Specialized Design Services	$40,370	$18,140	330
50	Foundries	$39,740	$19,810	n/a
51	Printing and Related Support Activities	$39,700	$26,940	60
52	Building Finishing Contractors	$37,790	$32,170	n/a
53	Nonstore Retailers	$37,660	$24,330	70
54	Painting and Wall Covering Contractors	$37,640	$32,120	n/a
55	Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses	$37,210	$22,460	50
56	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$36,800	$22,770	70
57	Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters	$36,740	$20,150	130
58	Performing Arts Companies	$36,730	$20,310	130
59	Specialty Trade Contractors	$36,620	$30,290	n/a
60	Construction	$36,270	$24,890	n/a
61	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$36,000	$17,620	3,660
62	Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing	$35,630	$21,410	270
63	Primary Metal Manufacturing	$35,330	$20,680	90
64	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$35,270	$17,530	3,980
65	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$34,570	$22,700	60
66	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$34,360	$17,470	4,470
67	Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing	$34,310	$21,150	200
68	Civic and Social Organizations	$34,170	$22,680	n/a
69	Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors	$33,810	$27,180	n/a
70	Retail Trade	$32,020	$18,500	700
71	Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers	$30,970	$18,140	570
72	Miscellaneous Store Retailers	$30,970	$18,140	570
73	Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing	$30,560	$20,840	30
74	Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions	$29,350	$18,050	140
75	Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries	$19,190	$17,130	350
76	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$18,650	$16,960	190
77	Other Amusement and Recreation Industries	$18,150	$16,920	200