Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA make a median of $140,660 a year, or about $67.62 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $69K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $123,853 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,601/month — about 31.3% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $141K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
About fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $141K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
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 |
| Arizona | $63K | +5% | 80 |
| Oregon | $63K | +5% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $63K | +4% | 50 |
| Georgia | $62K | +2% | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | -2% | 140 |
| Virginia | $59K | -3% | N/A |
Track fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $140,660 a year - that works out to about $67.62 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $141K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,140/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 32% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (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 fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary is worth about $123,853 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.