Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in Kentucky
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Kentucky earn a median of $48,050 a year ($23.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,360 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $55,490. Kentucky ranks 20th of 30 states for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators pay. There are 0.03 fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $45,520, close to the median.
Pay range for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,750 | $10.94 |
| 25th percentile | $22,750 | $10.94 |
| Median | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| 75th percentile | $55,460 | $26.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,360 | $31.42 |
| Average (mean) | $45,520 | $21.89 |
Half of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,004.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,002.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,848.08 |
| Weekly | $924.04 |
| Hourly | $23.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,560 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $98,540 |
| Nevada | $81,630 |
| New York | $78,870 |
| Washington | $72,430 |
| Connecticut | $71,210 |
| Maryland | $66,180 |
| Georgia | $65,010 |
| New Mexico | $63,090 |
| Minnesota | $61,730 |
| California | $58,240 |
See Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators pay in every state.
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| Graphic Designer | $52,960 | $25.46 |
| Interior Designer | $59,240 | $28.48 |
| Floral Designer | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $76,100 | $36.59 |
| Art Director | $76,160 | $36.61 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $53,260 | $25.61 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $50,970 | $24.51 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $35,570 | — |
| Public Relations Specialist | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| Producers and Directors | $54,550 | $26.23 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| Editor | $59,430 | $28.57 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $53,590 | $25.77 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in Kentucky?
The median salary for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in Kentucky is $48,050 a year, or $23.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in Kentucky earn at least $65,360 a year. The top 25% earn $55,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,750 a year, and a quarter of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators earn $22,750 or less.
How many fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators work in Kentucky?
About 60 fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.