Illustrator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$29.87 per hour

$62,140 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$29.11 per hour

$60,550 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$23.42 per hour

$48,710 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$14.78 per hour

$30,740 per year

10th percentile

Starting level illustrator earnings begin at:

$9.15 per hour

$19,020 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Illustrator salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New Jersey $79,860
Washington $78,030
Minnesota $71,600
Maryland $62,990
California $62,490
Oregon $61,930
Georgia $60,820
Utah $60,230
Florida $59,830
Massachusetts $59,400
Illinois $57,750
Kansas $51,270
Indiana $51,110
Nebraska $49,110
North Carolina $48,710
Colorado $47,850
New Mexico $47,440
Oklahoma $47,310
Virginia $46,760
Ohio $46,340
Iowa $44,380
Vermont $42,670
Michigan $42,090
Arizona $38,960
Louisiana $38,370
Alabama $38,270
Wisconsin $37,320
Pennsylvania $37,220
Missouri $36,130
New Hampshire $35,330
Montana $34,110
Puerto Rico $33,340
Tennessee $32,150
Mississippi $23,470
South Carolina $19,650
Arkansas $19,590
Kentucky $18,800
Texas $17,880
New York $125,930
Connecticut $103,230

How do illustrator salaries compare to similar careers?

Illustrators earn about the same as related careers in North Carolina. On average, they make less than calligraphers but more than painters.

Career Median Salary
Calligrapher salary $48K
Art therapist salary $47K
Illustrator salary $49K
Jeweler salary $39K
Photographer salary $37K
Engraver salary $43K
Painter salary $37K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)