Artists and Related Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a artists and related workers, all other in California is $60,540/year ($29.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $57,038 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 62.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in California?
About artists and related workers, all others
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What this looks like in California
Pay for artists and related workers, all other in California runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $71K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 60.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for artists and related workers, all others.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level artists and related workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Artists and Related Workers, All Other salary by metro in California
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $74K | +22% | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $74K | +22% | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $63K | +4% | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $49K | -19% | 370 |
Compare to other states
Track artists and related workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a artists and related workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 60.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for artists and related workers, all others in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new artists and related workers, all others typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,195/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 113% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is artists and related workers, all other a high-paying job in California?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $61K here vs. $71K nationally.
How does California compare to the national average for artists and related workers, all others?
California pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $71K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do artists and related workers, all others make in California?
The median is $60,540 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,580, and experienced artists and related workers, all others can clear $109,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 60.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a artists and related workers, all other salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median artists and related workers, all other salary is worth about $57,038 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do artists and related workers, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.