Illustrator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$48.10 per hour

$100,050 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$30.70 per hour

$63,850 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$17.00 per hour

$35,360 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level illustrator earnings begin at:

$13.54 per hour

$28,160 per year

10th percentile

Starting level illustrator earnings begin at:

$12.16 per hour

$25,300 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 6% less than similar careers in Washington. On average, they make less than fashion designers but more than craft artists.

Career Median Salary
Fashion designer salary $61K
Camera operator salary $64K
Interior designer salary $60K
Graphic designer salary $58K
Calligrapher salary $43K
Illustrator salary $35K
Photographer salary $44K
Exhibit designer salary $42K
Museum conservator salary $42K
Craft artist salary $38K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)