Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $50,880 a year, or about $24.46 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $52,147 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month — about 50.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $140K | +131% | 1,760 |
| Massachusetts | $84K | +38% | 30 |
| Indiana | $79K | +31% | 40 |
| New York | $79K | +30% | 960 |
| Washington | $78K | +29% | 840 |
| South Carolina | $73K | +21% | 190 |
| Connecticut | $73K | +20% | 140 |
| Maryland | $73K | +20% | 30 |
| Minnesota | $64K | +5% | 70 |
| Oregon | $63K | +5% | N/A |
| Arizona | $63K | +5% | 80 |
| New Jersey | $63K | +4% | 50 |
| Georgia | $62K | +2% | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | -2% | 140 |
| Virginia | $59K | -3% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $58K | -5% | 190 |
| Illinois | $54K | -11% | N/A |
| Nevada | $53K | -12% | 90 |
| Alabama | $52K | -14% | 40 |
| Missouri | $52K | -14% | 180 |
| Florida | $48K | -20% | 820 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -21% | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -25% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $45K | -26% | 260 |
| Maine | $45K | -26% | N/A |
| Idaho | $44K | -28% | 40 |
| Utah | $44K | -28% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $43K | -29% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $43K | -29% | N/A |
| Iowa | $39K | -36% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $39K | -36% | 90 |
| Michigan | $35K | -42% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | -43% | 110 |
| Texas | $35K | -43% | 1,140 |
| Louisiana | $32K | -47% | 190 |
| Ohio | $31K | -48% | 680 |
| Kansas | $25K | -59% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $50,880 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,170, and experienced fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators can clear $66,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,386/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 50.5% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary is worth about $52,147 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.