Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in New Mexico make a median of $63,090 a year, or about $30.33 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $67,795 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 27% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in New Mexico?
About fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
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What this looks like in New Mexico
New Mexico sits well above the national pay line for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $73K | +15% | 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 New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,491/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrator a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $63K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators?
New Mexico pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in New Mexico?
The median is $63,090 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,520, and experienced fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators can clear $79,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,220/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 26.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $67,795 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.