Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Kentucky, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Kentucky Median
$48,050
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.10
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-13% vs US median
US median $55,490
State Rank
#20 of 30
60 employed here

How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make in Kentucky?

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $48,050 per year, or about $23.10 per hour. That is 13% below the national median of $55,490 for this occupation.

Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $22,750 while the top 10% make $65,360 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $22,750 and $55,460 a year.

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary range in Kentucky

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$22,750$10.94
25th percentile (early career)$22,750$10.94
50th percentile (median)$48,050$23.10
75th percentile (experienced)$55,460$26.66
90th percentile (top earners)$65,360$31.42

How Kentucky compares

Kentucky ranks 20th out of 30 states and territories for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Oregon$98,540
2Nevada$81,630
3New York$78,870
4Washington$72,430
5Connecticut$71,210

Working as Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Kentucky

Nationally, about 11,000 people work as Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.

Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($48,050) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make in Kentucky?
The median Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in Kentucky is $48,050 per year, or about $23.10 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $22,750 at the entry level to $65,360 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators about 13% less than the national median of $55,490. Kentucky ranks 20th out of 30 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $48,050 a year. About 60 Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary report

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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). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.