Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media · SOC 27-1013 · O*NET 27-1013.00
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators fall under the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category in the U.S. occupational classification. Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn a median salary of $55,490 per year, ranking in the top 59% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -2.9% job growth through 2035, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators earn?
The median annual wage for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators is $55,490. That puts fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators at #486 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators is -2.9%, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Employment is projected to move from approximately 28K positions in 2024 to 28K in 2034, a net change of <1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.
What education does my child need to become fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrator?
The standard path into fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
What is the median salary for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators?
The median annual salary for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators is $55,490 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators a growing career?
BLS projects -2.9% growth for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators from 2025 through 2035, which is declining growth projected to lose jobs through 2035.
What education does my child need to become fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrator?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators?
Related occupations within the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.