SOC 27-1013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators — Michigan
Michigan · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay in Michigan is $38,650 a year, 30.3% under the national median of $55,490 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Michigan is $38,650 a year, 30.3% under the national median of $55,490 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $30,490 and $80,750. The lowest tenth earn under $25,960, while the highest tenth earn more than $124,480.
The area has 220 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.68 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Michigan ranks number 26th out of 30 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Detroit records the highest median at $42,060. Of the 774 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 668th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,960 | −53.2% |
| 25th | $30,490 | −45.1% |
| Median (50th) | $38,650 | −30.3% |
| 75th | $80,750 | +45.5% |
| 90th | $124,480 | +124.3% |
| Mean | $55,220 | −0.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $42,060 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $38,650 goes as far as $40,177 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 27.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,177US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,650 a year, 30.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $25,960 to $124,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 26th of 30 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Detroit, at $42,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Michigan?
The median annual wage is $38,650, or $18.58 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 Michigan is 30.3% 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 Michigan earns more than $124,480 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Detroit, at $42,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 220 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. 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.
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