How Much Does an Illustrator Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$55,490
Illustrators in the U.S. earn a median of $55,490 a year, or $26.68 an hour. Half of illustrators earn more than $55,490 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $144,210.
Pay percentiles for illustrators
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15.21 | $31,630 |
| 25th | $18.06 | $37,560 |
| 50th (median) | $26.68 | $55,490 |
| 75th | $40.00 | $83,200 |
| 90th | $69.33 | $144,210 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC 27-1013). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for illustrators
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $98,540 | $47.38 | +78% |
| Nevada | $81,630 | $39.25 | +47% |
| New York | $78,870 | $37.92 | +42% |
| Washington | $72,430 | $34.82 | +31% |
| Connecticut | $71,210 | $34.24 | +28% |
| Maryland | $66,180 | $31.82 | +19% |
| Georgia | $65,010 | $31.25 | +17% |
| New Mexico | $63,090 | $30.33 | +14% |
| Minnesota | $61,730 | $29.68 | +11% |
| California | $58,240 | $28.00 | +5% |
| United States | $55,490 | $26.68 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many illustrators are there?
BLS counts about 11,220 illustrators employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators”. The most jobs are in California (2,560), New York (1,400) and Florida (1,010).
The mean (average) annual wage is $73,150, higher than the median of $55,490.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,624
- Biweekly
- $2,134
- Weekly
- $1,067
- Daily (8 hours)
- $213
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do illustrators make an hour?
The median hourly wage for illustrators is $26.68. The middle 50% earn between $18.06 and $40.00 an hour.
Which state pays illustrators the most?
Oregon has the highest median wage for illustrators at $98,540, +78% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for illustrators?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of illustrators earn less than $31,630 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.