The Salary of Mural Artists

Salary

• According to May, 2010 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, artists who are painters earn a mean hourly wage of $25.52 per hour. This equates to an average annual salary of $53,080. Artists in the industry's highest earnings percentile earn an average salary of $89,720 per year. These figures are echoed by statistics issued by the human resources website Glassdoor.com and the Xenia Daily Gazette, which state that mural artists can earn between $2000 and $8,000 per commission.
  
  

Factors Affecting Salary

• The major factors affecting the earnings of mural artists are experience, size and scope of commission and number of projects per year. The BLS states that famous painters who have demonstrated years of success with popular works can command several thousand dollars for commissions, while lesser known artists attempt to establish themselves through low paying projects or even by volunteering their services. The BLS also indicates that commissions from private donors tend to yield higher earnings for artists than those from public organizations.
  
  

Salary by State

• 2010 BLS statistics indicate that New Mexico is home to the highest annual mean wage for painters. Artists in that state average an annual salary of $71,320. Painters and fine artists in the San Francisco, California, metropolitan area earn more than artists in any other U.S. city, with an average annual salary of $70,220. States where artists average an annual income less than $39,000 per year include Kansas, Montana and Iowa.
  
  

Relevant Background and Experience

• There is no formal educational training required to become a mural artist. Aspiring mural artists may want to consider formal arts training in perspective, composition or drawing. According to the BLS, many aspiring artists take advantage of internships or apprenticeships with established artists or design firms where they work to acquire industry knowledge and skills. Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills can assist mural artists in selling their portfolio and in contract negotiation.