Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: 11,220 jobs, median pay $55,490

11,220

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$55,490

Median pay a year

Middle half: $37,560–$83,200

2,200

Annual openings

10-year change: −2.9%

LCA filings, last 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 37 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay n/a · LCA filings 01,270n/a0

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $126,470 · LCA filings 1450$126,4701

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $68,140 · LCA filings 0330$68,1400

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $55,490 · LCA filings 0260$55,4900

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $82,580 · LCA filings 0250$82,5800

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $65,010 · LCA filings 0230$65,0100

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $49,650 · LCA filings 0230$49,6500

Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, FLMedian pay $49,280 · LCA filings 0210$49,2800

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay n/a · LCA filings 0140n/a0

Cincinnati, OH–KY–INMedian pay $34,560 · LCA filings 0130$34,5600

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 450 · LCA filings 1$126,4704501

Naples–Marco Island, FLEmployment 30 · LCA filings 0$83,670300

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 250 · LCA filings 0$82,5802500

Albany–Schenectady–Troy, NYEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$80,070400

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$77,100500

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 45011450

Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MIEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 12011120

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $72,384 · Level III $108,014 · Level IV $143,645$36,754$72,384$108,014$143,645

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $79,019 · Level III $114,691 · Level IV $150,342$43,368$79,019$114,691$150,342

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $58,677 · Level III $78,582 · Level IV $98,488$38,771$58,677$78,582$98,488

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $39,770 · Level III $50,003 · Level IV $60,216$29,557$39,770$50,003$60,216

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $68,765 · Level III $87,006 · Level IV $105,269$50,502$68,765$87,006$105,269

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $58,136 · Level III $68,952 · Level IV $79,789$47,299$58,136$68,952$79,789

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $42,536 · Level III $53,602 · Level IV $64,688$31,450$42,536$53,602$64,688

Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, FLLevel II $48,402 · Level III $60,715 · Level IV $73,008$36,109$48,402$60,715$73,008

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $53,248 · Level III $72,966 · Level IV $92,664$33,550$53,248$72,966$92,664

Cincinnati, OH–KY–INLevel II $35,339 · Level III $41,891 · Level IV $48,422$28,808$35,339$41,891$48,422

Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MILevel II $44,928 · Level III $61,568 · Level IV $78,229$28,267$44,928$61,568$78,229

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

Fine and Studio ArtsCIP 50.07OPT · up to 12 months1,905OPT · up to 12 months

Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralCIP 50.01OPT · up to 12 months271OPT · up to 12 months

Design and Applied ArtsCIP 50.04OPT · up to 12 months2,673OPT · up to 12 months

See Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in every metro area

All 37 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology