Artist demographics research summary. Zippia estimates artist demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our artist estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about artists after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 10,600 artists currently employed in the United States.
- 54.8% of all artists are women, while 45.2% are men.
- The average artist age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of artists is White (67.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.1%), Asian (7.6%) and Unknown (5.6%).
- Artists are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA.
- San Rafael, CA pays an annual average wage of $79,430, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women artists earned 93% of what men earned.
- Oregon is the best state for artists to live.
- Artists are 70% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On This Page
Artist demographics by:
Artist gender statistics
54.8% of artists are women and 45.2% of artists are men.
- Female, 54.8%
- Male, 45.2%
Artist gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 54.8% |
| Male | 45.2% |
Artist gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
![Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw== "Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (1)")
Male Income
$64,594
Female Income
$59,916
Artist gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in artist positions over time. Currently, 54.8% of artists are female.
Male
Female
100
%
80
%
60
%
40
%
20
%
%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Artist gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51.91% | 48.09% |
| 2011 | 49.37% | 50.63% |
| 2012 | 52.82% | 47.18% |
| 2013 | 48.74% | 51.26% |
| 2014 | 45.60% | 54.40% |
| 2015 | 47.94% | 52.06% |
| 2016 | 44.70% | 55.30% |
| 2017 | 47.12% | 52.88% |
| 2018 | 46.80% | 53.20% |
| 2019 | 45.20% | 54.80% |
| 2020 | 45.29% | 54.71% |
| 2021 | 45.24% | 54.76% |
Artist related jobs gender ratio
We compared artists with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, exhibit builder and senior industrial designer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Decorating Consultant | 9% | 91% |
| Floral Designer | 11% | 89% |
| Floral Manager | 11% | 89% |
| Artist | 45% | 55% |
| Craftsman | 88% | 12% |
| Senior Industrial Designer | 91% | 9% |
| Exhibit Builder | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Exhibit Builder
Senior Industrial Designer
Artist
Floral Manager
Floral Designer
Decorating Consultant
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Artist demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among artists is White, which makes up 67.8% of all artists. Comparatively, 14.1% of artists are Hispanic or Latino and 7.6% of artists are Asian.
- White, 67.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.1%
- Asian, 7.6%
- Unknown, 5.6%
- Black or African American, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
Artist Race
| Artist Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.1% |
| Asian | 7.6% |
| Unknown | 5.6% |
| Black or African American | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.6% |
Artist race and ethnicity over time
See how artist racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Artist race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 77.33% | 2.92% | 6.78% | 10.24% |
| 2011 | 76.89% | 3.55% | 6.67% | 9.79% |
| 2012 | 75.57% | 3.43% | 5.89% | 11.32% |
| 2013 | 76.04% | 3.60% | 6.76% | 10.28% |
| 2014 | 75.24% | 3.46% | 7.07% | 10.50% |
| 2015 | 74.79% | 3.26% | 6.65% | 11.00% |
| 2016 | 74.43% | 2.70% | 8.15% | 10.79% |
| 2017 | 73.73% | 3.56% | 7.48% | 12.13% |
| 2018 | 73.37% | 3.38% | 8.32% | 11.57% |
| 2019 | 73.63% | 3.90% | 7.53% | 11.39% |
| 2020 | 70.65% | 3.24% | 7.90% | 12.14% |
| 2021 | 67.75% | 4.31% | 7.59% | 14.08% |
Artist wage gap by race
According to our data, asian artists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american artists have the lowest average salary at $57,105.
$73,000
$70,000
$67,000
$64,000
$61,000
$58,000
$55,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $65,429 |
| White | $64,290 |
| Black or African American | $57,105 |
| Asian | $70,034 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $66,842 |
How Much Do Artist Make?
Average artist age
See how the average age of artists varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Artist age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 38.5 | 34.5 |
| White | 41 | 36 |
| Black or African American | 34 | |
| Asian | 37 | 33 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 38 | 38.5 |
Artist age breakdown
The average age of artists is 40+ years years old, representing 47% of the artist population.
40+ years
30-40 years
20-30 years
Artist age breakdown
| Artist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 47% |
| 30-40 years | 38% |
| 20-30 years | 16% |
Artist educational attainment
The most common degree for artists is bachelor's degree, with 59% of artists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Associate, 14%
- High School Diploma, 12%
- Master's, 7%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Artists by degree level
| Artist Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 59% |
| Associate | 14% |
| High School Diploma | 12% |
| Master's | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Artist Jobs You Might Like
Artist wage gap by degree level
According to the data, artists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $81,005 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, artists earn a median annual income of $78,583 compared to $64,886 for artists with an Associate degree.
$84,000
$79,000
$74,000
$69,000
$64,000
$59,000
$54,000
Master's Degree
High School Diploma or Less
Bachelor's Degree
Some College/ Associate Degree
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $81,005 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $58,297 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $78,583 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $64,886 |
Learn More About Artist Required Education
Artist employment statistics
Most artists work for a private in the media industry.
Company size where artists work
Below, you can see the size of companies where artists work.
< 50 employees
50 - 100 employees
100 - 500 employees
500 - 1,000 employees
1,000 - 10,000 employees
> 10,000
Artist jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 12% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 21% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 12% |
Artist jobs by company type
Employees with the artist job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most artists prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Education
Public
Private
Government
Artist jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 20% |
| Private | 70% |
| Government | 2% |
Artist jobs by industry
The most common industries for artists are media, technology and retail.
Media
Technology
Retail
Professional
Manufacturing
Show More
Artist industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Media | 17% |
| Technology | 17% |
| Retail | 10% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Non Profits | 6% |
| Education | 6% |
| Start-up | 6% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Government | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Energy | 1% |
Artist turnover and employment statistics
Artist unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for artists between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Artist unemployment rate by year
| Year | Artist Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.96% |
| 2011 | 8.02% |
| 2012 | 8.31% |
| 2013 | 6.45% |
| 2014 | 5.83% |
| 2015 | 5.42% |
| 2016 | 4.83% |
| 2017 | 5.07% |
| 2018 | 4.28% |
| 2019 | 4.56% |
| 2020 | 8.18% |
| 2021 | 8.63% |
Average artist tenure
The average artist stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 32,412 artists resumes in Zippia's database.
Less than one year
1-2 years
3-4 years
5-7 years
8-10 years
11+ years
Artist tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 28% |
| 1-2 years | 25% |
| 3-4 years | 11% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 16% |
Artist LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of artists that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Artist | 11.32% | - |
| Set Designer | 12.35% | 49,102 |
| Forms Designer | 13.05% | 43,794 |
| Florist Designer | 14.26% | 43,831 |
| Visual Merchandising Specialist | 16.91% | 32,782 |
| Apparel Fashion Designer | 17.98% | 46,150 |
| Kitchen And Bath Designer | 22.51% | 59,890 |
Similar artist jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Set Designer | 12.35% | 49,102 |
| Forms Designer | 13.05% | 43,794 |
| Florist Designer | 14.26% | 43,831 |
| Visual Merchandising Specialist | 16.91% | 32,782 |
| Apparel Fashion Designer | 17.98% | 46,150 |
| Kitchen And Bath Designer | 22.51% | 59,890 |
Foreign languages spoken by artists
The most common foreign language among artists is Spanish at 49.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 12.7% and Italian is the third-most popular at 6.1%.
- Spanish, 49.7%
- French, 12.7%
- Italian, 6.1%
- German, 4.7%
- Chinese, 3.8%
- Other, 23.0%
Artist languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 49.7% |
| French | 12.7% |
| Italian | 6.1% |
| German | 4.7% |
| Chinese | 3.8% |
| Other | 23.0% |
Artist Jobs
Artist location demographics
Where do artists earn the most?
Artists earn the most in California, where the average artist salary is $75,539. The map here shows where artists earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Average Salary
![Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (5)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/salary-maps/2.4.8/artist.svgz "Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (5)")
Which city has the most Artists?
By looking through more than 32,412 resumes, we found that the most popular places for artists are New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA.
Number of Artists
![Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (6)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/resume-artist.svgz "Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (6)")
Artist jobs by state
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 954 | $75,539 |
| 2 | New York | 403 | $70,092 |
| 3 | Texas | 355 | $62,669 |
| 4 | Florida | 223 | $59,501 |
| 5 | Georgia | 199 | $58,393 |
| 6 | Washington | 191 | $71,839 |
| 7 | Illinois | 178 | $62,625 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 175 | $69,461 |
| 9 | Virginia | 162 | $66,721 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 148 | $61,092 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 147 | $69,508 |
| 12 | Michigan | 122 | $66,190 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 119 | $63,767 |
| 14 | Maryland | 117 | $68,747 |
| 15 | Ohio | 115 | $64,923 |
| 16 | Indiana | 112 | $62,138 |
| 17 | Oregon | 99 | $73,421 |
| 18 | Minnesota | 96 | $62,831 |
| 19 | Colorado | 82 | $61,763 |
| 20 | Arizona | 79 | $69,240 |
| 21 | Connecticut | 77 | $70,130 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 77 | $70,113 |
| 23 | Utah | 75 | $67,184 |
| 24 | Tennessee | 68 | $58,556 |
| 25 | Missouri | 66 | $58,711 |
| 26 | Iowa | 60 | $60,370 |
| 27 | Kentucky | 57 | $60,236 |
| 28 | South Carolina | 56 | $58,845 |
| 29 | Alabama | 53 | $58,506 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | 45 | $68,398 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | 44 | $68,399 |
| 32 | Louisiana | 42 | $60,554 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 37 | $59,108 |
| 34 | Kansas | 36 | $58,954 |
| 35 | Nebraska | 34 | $59,055 |
| 36 | Arkansas | 31 | $58,365 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | 25 | $70,146 |
| 38 | New Mexico | 25 | $66,108 |
| 39 | Nevada | 24 | $74,007 |
| 40 | Idaho | 24 | $68,722 |
| 41 | Mississippi | 23 | $58,819 |
| 42 | Maine | 18 | $65,685 |
| 43 | Delaware | 16 | $69,636 |
| 44 | Wyoming | 16 | $61,810 |
| 45 | South Dakota | 16 | $60,289 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 14 | $64,729 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 14 | $61,135 |
| 48 | Vermont | 11 | $66,413 |
| 49 | North Dakota | 11 | $62,333 |
| 50 | Montana | 10 | $64,374 |
| 51 | Alaska | 8 | $62,887 |
Where are artists in high demand?
Artists are in high demand in Los Angeles, CA. There are currently 21 job openings for artists here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country artists are in the most demand.
Jobs Openings
![Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (7)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/listing-artist.svgz "Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (7)")
Artist Demographics FAQs
What percentage of Artists are female?
How many Artist are there in the US?
What percentage of Artists are black?
What race are most Artists?
Are Artist jobs male - dominated?
How old is the average Artist?
Have more questions?
See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.Search for artist jobs
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Updated April 5, 2024
![Artist Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Artists In The US (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)