Illustrator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$38.79 per hour

$80,690 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$28.12 per hour

$58,480 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$18.10 per hour

$37,640 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$16.02 per hour

$33,320 per year

10th percentile

Starting level illustrator earnings begin at:

$14.76 per hour

$30,710 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Illustrator salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Oklahoma $67,440
California $65,190
Connecticut $64,070
New Jersey $62,170
New York $60,170
Virginia $59,130
Minnesota $56,490
Texas $55,830
Maryland $52,330
Kansas $51,270
Oregon $51,020
Georgia $48,460
New Hampshire $47,380
Massachusetts $47,120
Indiana $46,844
Arizona $45,804
Nebraska $44,440
Iowa $44,380
North Carolina $43,310
Utah $43,140
Vermont $42,670
Michigan $42,090
Kentucky $39,730
Florida $38,940
Illinois $38,422
Colorado $37,720
Louisiana $37,640
Tennessee $37,570
Ohio $37,360
Pennsylvania $37,220
Missouri $36,130
Washington $35,360
Wisconsin $34,960
Montana $34,110
New Mexico $33,910
Puerto Rico $33,340
Mississippi $21,510
South Carolina $19,650
Arkansas $19,590

How do illustrator salaries compare to similar careers?

Illustrators earn 8% less than similar careers in Louisiana. On average, they make less than art directors but more than exhibit designers.

Career Median Salary
Art director salary $63K
Games artist salary $63K
Multimedia animator salary $50K
Film director salary $56K
Filmmaker salary $56K
Illustrator salary $38K
Camera operator salary $41K
Graphic designer salary $42K
Interior designer salary $38K
Exhibit designer salary $36K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)