Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in the United States

DOL-verified data from 203 government filings, with BLS survey comparison.

DOL Median Salary
$45,614
BLS median: $60,560
DOL Median Salary
$45,614
From 203 DOL filings
BLS Median Salary
$60,560
BLS OEWS 2024 survey
Total Employers
129
Companies with DOL filings
Total Employment
10,000
Estimated US workers (BLS)

DOL Filings vs BLS Survey

What Employers File with DOL

$45,614
DOL-Filed Salary Range
$20,800$39,520$45,614$65,500$190,000

This figure comes from 203 employer filings with the US Department of Labor under legal obligation. Employers file this salary when sponsoring workers for PERM green cards or H-1B visas.

What BLS Says the Market Pays

$60,560
BLS Survey Salary Range
$26,420$39,740$60,560$89,630$140,660

This figure comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey of 10,000 establishments. This is an independent survey-based estimate of what all workers in this occupation earn.

DOL-filed salaries are 24.7% lower than BLS survey data, which may reflect that sponsored positions concentrate in high-cost locations or experience-intensive roles.

Salary Distribution

Top Paying Employers for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Ranked by median salary from DOL filings
RankEmployerMedian SalaryFilingsvs Market
1JEFF KOONS LLC$39,52013-34.7%

View all companies hiring Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs NationalFilingsEmployers
New York, NY$40,560-11.1%3416

Salary by State

StateMedianvs NationalFilings
California$66,538-52.5%29
Nebraska$65,947+54.3%10
Wisconsin$65,500+13.4%1
Massachusetts$54,246-35.1%5
Michigan$48,550+38.4%2
New York$44,000-44.1%47
Nevada$41,746-21.5%1
Connecticut$41,600-42.9%1
Maryland$41,600-42.8%3
Texas$40,040+15.7%2
New Jersey$40,040-36.1%1
Georgia$37,160-39.6%4
Tennessee$35,069-26.3%1
Virginia$31,200-47.1%1
Florida$30,600-36.9%4

Salary Trend - DOL Data

Education Requirements

From PERM filings

For Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators positions, 28% of PERM filings required a Bachelor's degree, 3% required a Master's degree, and 50% required no formal degree.

Education by Top Employer

Most common minimum education from PERM filings
EmployerMost Common EducationMedian Salary
JEFF KOONS LLCNot specified$39,520

Salary by Industry

Same occupation, different industries (NAICS)

The highest-paying industry for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators is Professional and Technical Services at $61,962. The lowest-paying industry with significant hiring is Arts, Entertainment, Recreation at $50,042.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make?

Based on 203 DOL filings, the median salary for a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators is $45,614, ranging from $39,520 to $65,500.

What is the highest salary for a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?

The 90th percentile salary is $140,660 according to BLS data.

Which city pays the most for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?

Based on DOL filings, New York, NY offers the highest median at $40,560.

Does this data include all Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salaries or only visa-sponsored workers?

DOL filing data covers positions where the employer filed for PERM green card sponsorship or an H-1B visa. These filings represent a subset of all Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators positions. We compare this data against BLS OEWS data which covers all workers in this occupation.

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Source: US Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) public disclosure files (PERM Form ETA-9089 and LCA Form ETA-9035), and US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Salary figures represent employer filings and government survey estimates, not individual worker pay.