How to Become a Fine Artist / Illustrator
Create original paintings, sculptures, drawings and illustrations for sale, commission and publication. It typically requires a bachelor's degree (portfolio matters more), with a median salary of $55,490 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$55,490/yr
Middle half
$37,560 to $83,200
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
2,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Drawing
- Painting
- Composition
- Self-Promotion
Related careers
- Film / Video Producer$90,360 median
- Set / Exhibit Designer$75,240 median
- Graphic Designer$62,960 median
- Merchandise Displayer$39,390 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Fine Artist / Illustrator make?
The median pay for a Fine Artist / Illustrator is $55,490 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $37,560 and $83,200 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Fine Artist / Illustrator?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree (portfolio matters more). Common majors are Fine Arts, Illustration, and Art History.
Is Fine Artist / Illustrator a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 2,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Fine Artist / Illustrator use most?
Common skills for this role are Drawing, Painting, Composition, and Self-Promotion.
Planning to become a Fine Artist / Illustrator?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).