27 Series · SOC 27-1012

Craft Artists Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$46,080
Median / year
$71,990
Top 10% earn
+2.1%
Growth '23–'33
4,580
US workers

Craft Artists earn a median of $46,080 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $46,080, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $25,960 (10th percentile) to $71,990 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 4,580 US workers. California pays the most ($100,540), since pay varies by state and metro area.

27 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Craft Artists earn a median of $46,080, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 22% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks #32 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.1% by 2033.

$46,080
Median annual wage
Top 78%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#32 of 36
in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
2.8×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $100,540. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Craft Artists (SOC 27-1012) pays a national median of $46,080 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $25,960 at the 10th percentile to $71,990 at the 90th, with a mean of $49,740 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 4,580 Americans work in this occupation across 23 reporting states and 18 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and long-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $100,540, which is +118% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $100,410 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 4,580 jobs Median $46,080/yr

Median Salary

$46,080

per year

Median Hourly

$22.15/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$49,740

average

Employment

4,580

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Craft Artists pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$46,080 Bottom 22% higher than 22% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 27-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Craft Artists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 27-series occupations with growth data, Craft Artists sits on the slower-growing side at +2.1% growth and $46,080 median pay.

Among 25 27-series occupations with growth data, Craft Artists sits on the slower-growing side at +2.1% growth and $46,080 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 27-series occupations with growth data, Craft Artists sits on the slower-growing side at +2.1% growth and $46,080 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+2.1%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

1,000

per year (projected)

Typical Education

No formal educational credential

On-the-Job Training

Long-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

0.6/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

2.3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Craft Artists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Critical Thinking 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Social Perceptiveness 2.9
Judgment and Decision Making 2.9
Writing 2.8
Active Learning 2.8
Persuasion 2.8

Knowledge Areas

Design 3.9
Fine Arts 3.7
Sales and Marketing 3.6
English Language 3.3
Customer and Personal Service 3.3
Production and Processing 3.2
Communications and Media 2.8
Mechanical 2.8
Computers and Electronics 2.6
Education and Training 2.6

Key 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.
  • ▸ Pack products for shipping.
  • ▸ Fabricate patterns or templates to guide craft production.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$25,960$35,020$46,080$58,240$71,990
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$12.48$16.84$22.15$28.00$34.61
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$25,960

25th Percentile

$35,020

Median

$46,080

75th Percentile

$58,240

90th Percentile

$71,990

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. California $100,540 2. Missouri $61,780 3. Wisconsin $58,650 4. Texas $54,690 5. Maine $53,380

Lowest Paying States

19. Michigan $25,960 20. Minnesota $27,560 21. Tennessee $32,830 22. Connecticut $34,010 23. South Carolina $35,050
View all 23 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $100,540 +118% above national
2 Missouri $61,780 +34% above national
3 Wisconsin $58,650 +27% above national
4 Texas $54,690 +19% above national
5 Maine $53,380 +16% above national
6 Oregon $51,060 +11% above national
7 New York $49,020 +6% above national
8 Georgia $48,880 +6% above national
9 Florida $48,710 +6% above national
10 Massachusetts $47,660 +3% above national
11 Arizona $46,300 same as national
12 Washington $44,120 4% below national
13 Colorado $43,620 5% below national
14 Illinois $43,040 7% below national
15 Alaska $41,600 10% below national
16 Pennsylvania $41,600 10% below national
17 Alabama $40,800 11% below national
18 Ohio $38,070 17% below national
19 South Carolina $35,050 24% below national
20 Connecticut $34,010 26% below national
21 Tennessee $32,830 29% below national
22 Minnesota $27,560 40% below national
23 Michigan $25,960 44% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $100,410 2. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $74,110 3. Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $58,640 4. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $53,680 5. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $51,060

Lowest Paying Metros

14. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $25,960 15. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $32,830 16. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $41,220 17. Alaska nonmetropolitan area $41,600 18. Cleveland, OH $43,040
View all 18 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $100,410 +118% above national
2 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $74,110 +61% above national
3 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $58,640 +27% above national
4 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $53,680 +16% above national
5 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $51,060 +11% above national
6 Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $49,760 +8% above national
7 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $49,290 +7% above national
8 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $49,200 +7% above national
9 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $48,190 +5% above national
10 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $47,670 +3% above national
11 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $47,340 +3% above national
12 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $46,300 same as national
13 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $44,720 3% below national
14 Cleveland, OH $43,040 7% below national
15 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $41,600 10% below national
16 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $41,220 11% below national
17 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $32,830 29% below national
18 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $25,960 44% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 27 (arts design entertainment sports and media) with comparable pay and career paths.

Actors

SOC 27-2011

Art Directors

SOC 27-1011

Artists and Related Workers, All Other

SOC 27-1019

Athletes and Sports Competitors

SOC 27-2021

Audio and Video Technicians

SOC 27-4011
Compare Craft Artists side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Craft Artists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Craft Artists is $46,080 ($22.15/hour). The salary range spans from $25,960 at the 10th percentile to $71,990 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Craft Artists the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Craft Artists at $100,540/year, which is +118% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Craft Artists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Craft Artists is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Craft Artists? ▼
Craft Artists has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Craft Artists a good career? ▼
Employment for Craft Artists is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 1,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Craft Artists pay vary by state? ▼
Craft Artists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $100,540/year, while South Carolina pays the least at $35,050/year. BLS data covers 23 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Craft Artists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Craft Artists is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $100,410/year. BLS reports wage data for 18 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Craft Artists pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $58,240/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $100,540/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.