The Salary of a Drawing Artist
Professional drawing artists, also known as illustrators, create and sell artworks that are both hand drawn as well as designed and edited using graphic design software. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60 percent of professional artists are self-employed and earn their living through project-based and contractual work. Illustrators work in numerous industries, from publishing to specialized design and architecture.
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Salary Range
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May, 2010, salary data from the BLS states that professional illustrators earn an average salary of $53,080 a year, or $25.52 per hour, across a standard 40-hour work week. Artists in the occupation's lowest salary percentile, such as those in entry-level positions or with little experience, earn $19,190 per year on average according to BLS data, working out to an hourly rate of $9.22. Earnings for the occupation top out at $89,720 per year, or $43.14 per hour.
Salary Across Industry
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Professional illustrators employed in the scientific research and development industry lead all others in the occupation in terms of average annual earnings. Artists in this field earn $38.66 an hour on average, amounting to an annual total of $80,420 per year. This rate is more than 30 percent higher than the national average for the occupation. Illustration artists in the architecture and engineering field, and those employed by software publishers, also report high average annual earnings, according to BLS data, with annual salaries of $75,090 and $67,080, respectively.
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Salaries Statewide
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The BLS reports that New Mexico is the highest-paying state for professional illustrators as of May, 2010. Artists in that state earn an average $34.29 per hour, or $71,320 annually. Low-paying states for professional illustrators, or those where artists earn less that $39,000 a year on average, include Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Montana and Maryland. San Jose, California, ranks as the highest-paying metropolitan area in the United States for professional illustrators in terms of average salary, where those in the field average $39.31 per hour, or $81,770 per year.
Necessary Training and Skills
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While no particular formal educational path is necessary for aspiring professional illustrators, any formal training or coursework in drawing basics, including perspective, color, and portrait drawing are highly valuable. In addition to a portfolio displaying their diverse range of styles and subject matter, aspiring professional illustrators should also possess excellent networking and interpersonal skills with which to navigate this highly competitive field and build a solid network of regular clients.
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References
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