Best Cities for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss by Take-Home Pay
The cities that pay Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $109,394/year, better purchasing power than San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont's higher nominal pay of $126,470. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.
Highest nominal pay
Best purchasing power
Top 25 metros by purchasing power
Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustratorss excluded.
COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Common questions
What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss?
COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $126,470 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $105,392 at national average prices.
Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?
Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.
How is purchasing power calculated?
Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.
What's the most affordable metro for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has one of the lowest rent burdens for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $3,604/month, with a median salary of $126,470.
Where do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss get paid the most in nominal terms?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays the highest nominal median salary at $126,470/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.