Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Also called: Artist, Fine Artist, Painter, SculptorCreate original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 14 of its 28 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 2.9% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 5.7% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Artists and related workers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 11.1 hires for every 10 job openings in arts, entertainment, and recreation, which employs about 42% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.11.1 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $56,160 | $37,340 to $91,340 | 110 |
| Arkansas | $32,340 | $29,500 to $53,020 | 40 |
| California | $58,240 | $37,560 to $154,540 | 2,560 |
| Colorado | $51,910 | $43,770 to $76,360 | 250 |
| Connecticut | $71,210 | $56,160 to $84,520 | 100 |
| Florida | $50,360 | $40,200 to $78,430 | 1,010 |
| Georgia | $65,010 | $50,350 to $77,540 | 350 |
| Illinois | $53,850 | $43,770 to $76,900 | not published |
| Indiana | not published | not published | 210 |
| Kansas | $25,830 | $22,880 to $47,960 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $48,050 | $22,750 to $55,460 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $40,700 | $34,060 to $72,400 | not published |
| Maine | $46,170 | $41,470 to $65,700 | not published |
| Maryland | $66,180 | $54,690 to $75,610 | 80 |
| Massachusetts | not published | not published | 140 |
| Michigan | $38,650 | $30,490 to $80,750 | 220 |
| Minnesota | $61,730 | $56,010 to $81,800 | not published |
| Missouri | $49,820 | $35,990 to $59,820 | 110 |
| Montana | not published | not published | 50 |
| Nebraska | $39,800 | $31,200 to $46,080 | 40 |
| Nevada | $81,630 | $43,750 to $82,790 | 160 |
| New Jersey | not published | not published | 310 |
| New Mexico | $63,090 | $45,380 to $72,830 | 70 |
| New York | $78,870 | $62,780 to $119,990 | 1,400 |
| North Carolina | not published | not published | 390 |
| Ohio | $31,780 | $24,190 to $43,750 | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $47,830 | $47,830 to $83,200 | 60 |
| Oregon | $98,540 | $72,600 to $98,540 | not published |
| Pennsylvania | $54,270 | $38,730 to $71,170 | not published |
| South Carolina | not published | not published | 160 |
| Tennessee | $30,720 | $30,710 to $50,320 | 100 |
| Texas | $49,650 | $36,920 to $64,820 | 700 |
| Utah | $57,270 | $41,560 to $80,640 | 80 |
| Virginia | $47,930 | $35,000 to $70,300 | 230 |
| Washington | $72,430 | $41,320 to $101,530 | 350 |
| Wisconsin | $53,350 | $50,460 to $68,180 | 100 |
Nationally: $55,490. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 14 of its 28 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods. | 0.13% |
| Not much | Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Submit preliminary or finished artwork or project plans to clients for approval, incorporating changes as necessary. | under 0.01% |
See all 28 tasks
| Not much | Photograph objects, places, or scenes for reference material. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up exhibitions of artwork for display or sale. | Not published |
| Not much | Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites. | Not published |
| AI + software | Create sketches, profiles, or likenesses of posed subjects or photographs, using any combination of freehand drawing, mechanical assembly kits, and computer imaging. | Not published |
| AI + software | Monitor events, trends, and other circumstances, research specific subject areas, attend art exhibitions, and read art publications to develop ideas and keep current on art world activities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop project budgets for approval, estimating time lines and material costs. | 0.02% |
| AI alone | Submit artwork to shows or galleries. | Not published |
| AI + software | Shade and fill in sketch outlines and backgrounds, using a variety of media such as water colors, markers, and transparent washes, labeling designated colors when necessary. | Not published |
| Not much | Cut, bend, laminate, arrange, and fasten individual or mixed raw and manufactured materials and products to form works of art. | Not published |
| Not much | Create sculptures, statues, and other three-dimensional artwork by using abrasives and tools to shape, carve, and fabricate materials such as clay, stone, wood, or metal. | Not published |
| Not much | Frame and mat artwork for display or sale. | Not published |
| Not much | Create finished art work as decoration, or to elucidate or substitute for spoken or written messages. | Not published |
| AI + software | Trace drawings onto clear acetate for painting or coloring, or trace them with ink to make final copies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Render drawings, illustrations, and sketches of buildings, manufactured products, or models, working from sketches, blueprints, memory, models, or reference materials. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Create and prepare sketches and model drawings of cartoon characters, providing details from memory, live models, manufactured products, or reference materials. | Not published |
| Not much | Collaborate with writers who create ideas, stories, or captions that are combined with artists' work. | Not published |
| Not much | Teach artistic techniques to children or adults. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Collaborate with engineers, mechanics, and other technical experts as necessary to build and install creations. | Not published |
| Not much | Brush or spray protective or decorative finishes on completed background panels, informational legends, exhibit accessories, or finished paintings. | Not published |
| Not much | Apply solvents and cleaning agents to clean surfaces of paintings, and to remove accretions, discolorations, and deteriorated varnish. | Not published |
| Not much | Model substances such as clay or wax, using fingers and small hand tools to form objects. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide entertainment at special events by performing activities such as drawing cartoons. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 6 of the 28 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 28 tasks fall under 23 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #7 Explain technical details of products or services
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- and 4 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Create decorative objects or parts of objects | |||
| Apply decorative finishes | |||
| Arrange displays or decorations | |||
| Present arts or entertainment performances | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Explain technical details of products or services | |||
| Create artistic designs or performances |
Show all 23 activities
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Research technology designs or applications | |||
| Monitor external affairs, trends, or events | |||
| Teach academic or vocational subjects | |||
| Promote products, services, or programs | |||
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Clean workpieces, finished products, or other objects | |||
| Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas | |||
| Operate audiovisual or related equipment | |||
| Apply protective solutions or coatings | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Assemble products or work aids | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Process shipments or mail | |||
| Prepare industrial materials for processing or use |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An image or graphic23%
- A design mockup14%
- A document or report10%
- An app or website4%
- A chart or visualization4%
How they worked with Claude
47% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 73,120 moves out
- 1 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 6%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 3 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 3%
- 4 Self-Enrichment Teachers High +3.5% 3%
- 5 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 82,480 moves in
- 1 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 7%
- 2 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 3%
- 3 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 3%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 5 Self-Enrichment Teachers High +3.5% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 35% bachelor's
- 64% not published
O*NET marks 64% of the answers as too uncertain to publish, so the parts shown don't add up to 100%.
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 17 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 14% high school
- 16% some college
- 8% associate's
- 44% bachelor's
- 12% master's
- 1% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Artists and related workers” · 3,457 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Artists and related workers”
12 programs, such as Visual and Performing Arts, General, Art/Art Studies, General and Fine/Studio Arts, General.
See all
- Visual and Performing Arts, General
- Art/Art Studies, General
- Fine/Studio Arts, General
- Drawing
- Intermedia/Multimedia
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Printmaking
- Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
- Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other
- Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art
- Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 3 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (CARTOONIST, MOTION PICTURE; ILLUSTRATOR (Profess & Kin); PAINTER (Professional and Kindred)). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/27-1013.00