Craft Artist Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Craft Artists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$46,080
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.15
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$71,990
entry level starts ~$25,960
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 5,000 employed

How much does a Craft Artist make?

The median pay for a Craft Artist in the United States is $46,080 per year — about $22.15 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $25,960, while the most experienced Craft Artists in the top 10% earn $71,990.

That is $15,310 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Craft Artist salary range by percentile

Half of all Craft Artists earn between $35,020 and $58,240 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$25,960$12.48
25th percentile (early career)$35,020$16.84
50th percentile (median)$46,080$22.15
75th percentile (experienced)$58,240$28.00
90th percentile (top earners)$71,990$34.61

Highest-paying states for Craft Artist

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Craft Artist pay at $100,540 a year, followed by Missouri ($61,780) and Wisconsin ($58,650). At the other end, Michigan posts the lowest median at $25,960 — a gap of $74,580 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$100,540$48.34+118%
2Missouri$61,780$29.70+34%
3Wisconsin$58,650$28.20+27%
4Texas$54,690$26.29+19%
5Maine$53,380$25.66+16%

Workforce and education

About 5,000 people work as Craft Artists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $49,740 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Craft Artist make in the United States?
The median Craft Artist salary in the United States is $46,080 per year, or about $22.15 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $25,960, while the top 10% of earners make $71,990 or more.
How does Craft Artist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Craft Artist median of $46,080 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Craft Artists the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Craft Artists, with a median salary of $100,540 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Craft Artist?
Becoming a Craft Artist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Craft Artists work in the United States?
About 5,000 people were employed as Craft Artists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.