Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Also called: Fine Artists
Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.
Also called: 3D Artist (Three Dimensional Artist), 3D Artist (Three-Dimensional Artist), Animated Cartoons Painter, Artist, Artist in Residence (AIR), Automotive Artist
Median pay
$55,490
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$31,630 – $144,210
People employed
11,220
Holland code
ARI
Artistic · Realistic · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 2.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 3.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 4.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 5.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 6.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 7.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 8.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators pay by state
Annual median pay by state (30 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in every state →
What fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators do
- 01Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
- 02Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
- 03Model substances such as clay or wax, using fingers and small hand tools to form objects.
- 04Create sculptures, statues, and other three-dimensional artwork by using abrasives and tools to shape, carve, and fabricate materials such as clay, stone, wood, or metal.
- 05Set up exhibitions of artwork for display or sale.
- 06Render drawings, illustrations, and sketches of buildings, manufactured products, or models, working from sketches, blueprints, memory, models, or reference materials.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Fine Arts
Work styles that stand out
- Innovation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers74% · +13%
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance70% · +75%
- Photographers69% · −20%
- Desktop Publishers66% · 0%
- Film and Video Editors66% · +36%
Change into fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Photographers78% · $44,660
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers69% · $62,750
- Models63% · $48,470
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers63% · $76,910
- Video Game Designers60% · $104,000
Majors that lead here
- Visual and Performing Arts, General
- Art/Art Studies, General
- Fine/Studio Arts, General
- Drawing
- Intermedia/Multimedia
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Printmaking
- Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
- Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other
- Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art
- Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.