Craft artists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25,960 | $12.48 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Mean (average) | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| 90th percentile | $71,990 | $34.61 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Craft artists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 24 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,800 | $21,520 | $44,270 | 70 | 1.13 |
| Alaska | $41,600 | $41,600 | $41,600 | ||
| Arizona | $46,300 | $31,430 | $58,840 | ||
| California | $100,540 | $55,290 | $204,390 | 170 | 0.31 |
| Colorado | $43,620 | $36,580 | $58,470 | ||
| Connecticut | $34,010 | $34,010 | $42,810 | 70 | 1.38 |
| Florida | $48,710 | $35,530 | $80,800 | 270 | 0.93 |
| Georgia | $48,880 | $19,600 | $95,210 | ||
| Illinois | $43,040 | $33,670 | $68,080 | ||
| Louisiana | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.84 | ||
| Maine | $53,380 | $34,560 | $57,320 | 50 | 2.44 |
| Massachusetts | $47,660 | $38,320 | $76,010 | 50 | 0.44 |
| Michigan | $25,960 | $25,960 | $47,990 | 290 | 2.24 |
| Minnesota | $27,560 | $24,780 | $60,820 | 140 | 1.57 |
| Missouri | $61,780 | $37,830 | $73,560 | 140 | 1.6 |
| New York | $49,020 | $33,650 | $89,790 | 50 | 0.18 |
| Ohio | $38,070 | $30,060 | $50,450 | 180 | 1.13 |
| Oregon | $51,060 | $39,740 | $78,000 | 170 | 2.93 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,600 | $32,140 | $61,000 | 230 | 1.3 |
| South Carolina | $35,050 | $26,010 | $52,830 | 70 | 1 |
| Tennessee | $32,830 | $30,930 | $109,410 | ||
| Texas | $54,690 | $35,790 | $71,990 | 870 | 2.11 |
| Washington | $44,120 | $39,150 | $54,720 | 80 | 0.79 |
| Wisconsin | $58,650 | $25,990 | $73,790 | 190 | 2.15 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for craft artists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 62.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for craft artists
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Visual and Performing Arts, General CIP 50.0101
- Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry CIP 50.0201
- Art/Art Studies, General CIP 50.0701
- Drawing CIP 50.0705
- Painting CIP 50.0708
- Sculpture CIP 50.0709
- Printmaking CIP 50.0710
- Ceramic Arts and Ceramics CIP 50.0711
- Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts CIP 50.0712
- Jewelry Arts CIP 50.0713
- Metal Arts CIP 50.0714
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics.
- Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
- Develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
- Apply finishes to objects being crafted.
- Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
- Set specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes.
- Advertise products and work, using media such as internet advertising and brochures.
- Sketch or draw objects to be crafted.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- DRAWSTITCH Artistic Sewing Suite
- Electric Quilt Quilt Design Wizard
- Email software
- Embroidery design software
- Floriani MDQ My Decorative Quilter
- John Hesselberth and Ron Roy GlazeMaster
- Pattern design software
- Sales management software
- SmugMug Flickr
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Analysis.
Common job titles: Artist, Ceramic Artist, Decorative Arts Production Artist, Fiber Artist, Fine Craft Artist, Glass Artist, Goldsmith, Hand-Weaver, Tapestry Artist, Textile Artist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do craft artists make?
The national median annual wage for craft artists was $46,080 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $25,960 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $71,990. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do craft artists need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is craft artists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of craft artists to change +2.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay craft artists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($100,540), Missouri ($61,780), Wisconsin ($58,650). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.