Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Colorado make a median of $51,910 a year, or about $24.96 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Colorado?
About fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary by metro in Colorado
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $77K | +49% | 50 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $54K | +4% | 70 |
| Colorado Springs | $49K | -5% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,187/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,582/month.
Is fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrator a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $52K locally vs. $55K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators?
Colorado pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s -6%.
How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in Colorado?
The median is $51,910 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,040, and experienced fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators can clear $102,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,455/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,187/month, which eats 34.4% 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 fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary is worth about $51,910 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators 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.