The median annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in California is $140,080 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $152,160.
Pay spans roughly $63,950 at the 10th percentile to $226,440 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $67.35 per hour. An estimated 1,760 people work as fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in California.
| Median (annual) | $140,080 |
| Mean (annual) | $152,160 |
| Median (hourly) | $67.35 |
| 10th percentile | $63,950 |
| 90th percentile | $226,440 |
| Employment | 1,760 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.