SOC 27-1013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
In Detroit, MI the median wage is $42,060.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Detroit, MI the median wage is $42,060. That is 24.2% lower than the national median of $55,490. Pay ranges from under $25,960 at the tenth percentile to more than $125,660 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $32,720 to $85,110.
Employment stands at 120, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Of the 671 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 553rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,960 | −53.2% |
| 25th | $32,720 | −41.0% |
| Median (50th) | $42,060 | −24.2% |
| 75th | $85,110 | +53.4% |
| 90th | $125,660 | +126.5% |
| Mean | $61,740 | +11.3% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $42,060 goes as far as $43,721 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,721US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,060 a year, 24.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $25,960 to $125,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $42,060, or $20.22 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $55,490, so pay in Detroit, MI is 24.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Detroit, MI earns more than $125,660 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $25,960 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data