Basics

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that, as of May 2009, fine artists made a median hourly wage of $21.23, or a yearly salary of $44,160. The lowest 10 percent earned $9.46 an hour or $19,680 a year, while the highest 10 percent made $41.66 an hour or $86,650 a year.
  
  

Industries

• The type of industry can dictate compensation. The highest-paying industry for this profession in May 2009 was scientific research and development services, in which compensation was $38.48 an hour or $80,040 a year. That was followed by motion picture and video, $38 an hour or $79,040 a year; architectural, engineering and related services, at $33.85 an hour or $70,410 a year; software publishers, $31.53 an hour or $65,570 a year; and the federal government, $30.61 an hour or $63,660 a year.
  
  

States

• According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top five highest-paying states for this profession in May 2009 were Delaware, at $64.08 an hour or $133,280 a year; California, $33.12 an hour or $68,900 a year; Connecticut, $29.71 an hour or $61,790 a year; Michigan, $29.66 an hour or $61,690 a year; and Indiana, at $29.33 an hour or $61,000 a year.
  
  

Cities

• The city in which a job is located can decide wages. The best for this job in May 2009 were Wilmington, Delaware, in which compensation was $66.23 an hour or $137,750 a year; and Detroit, Michigan, in which compensation was $42.04 an hour or $87,440 a year. The next three were located in California: San Jose, in which pay ran to $38.73 an hour or $80,560 a year; San Francisco, $36.82 an hour or $76,590 a year; and Los Angeles, $35.00 an hour or $72,810 a year.
  
  

Employment Levels

• The areas with the most employment do not always offer the best salaries. The greatest number of jobs was with the self-employed, with compensation at $22.16 an hour or $46,080 a year. Number two in terms of employment was the motion picture and video industry, which also was second in pay. The states with the greatest concentrations of artists were Michigan, with salaries at $29.66 an hour or $61,690 a year; and New Mexico, with salaries at $26.25 an hour or $54,600 a year. Finally, the cities with the greatest concentration of workers were Fort Collins, Colorado, with salaries at $23.41 an hour or $48,700 a year; and Warren, Michigan, with salaries at $13.57 an or $28,230 a year.