2 answers
Cass
Student
Queen Creek, Arizona
2
Questions
Asked
1365 views
What is the average and start up salary for a illustrator in the USA?
Im in AZ and im trying to find more information about illustrator salaries.
I've seen some ranges for. Mid 50s- to high 200's with not much in between. With the averages at either end of those numbers.
Does anyone have better insight of what a good average salary is for an illustrator?
Thank you!
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2 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
640
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Cass,
You can find salary information here:
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/illustrator-i-salary
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/illustrator-ii-salary
https://www.indeed.com/career/illustrator/salaries
You might also want to look at specializations like Medical Illustrator:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-is-medical-illustrator
Keep in mind that your salary will depend on the kind of projects you do, the company you work for, your experience, the location and cost of living. You can also work as a free-lancer, and your income will depend on the quality of your work and your success in marketing yourself.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
You can find salary information here:
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/illustrator-i-salary
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/illustrator-ii-salary
https://www.indeed.com/career/illustrator/salaries
You might also want to look at specializations like Medical Illustrator:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-is-medical-illustrator
Keep in mind that your salary will depend on the kind of projects you do, the company you work for, your experience, the location and cost of living. You can also work as a free-lancer, and your income will depend on the quality of your work and your success in marketing yourself.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Michelle M.
Actress
2520
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Cass !
Well, there are some reasons why you will not know your salary before you are even working for a company or on an illustration project.
Salaries are assigned to work on an employer basis - meaning, whatever the employer, company or client OFFERS is what the salary is. You do not set out with a salary in your mind, insisting that's what you'd accept, you either accept or refuse AN OFFER of a salary. Salaries are not standard. It will also depend if you freelance for clients or work full time or part time for a company. Or both freelance as well as work for a company. You need to love illustration so much that salary doesn't matter. It's definitely a career that can build over time. Another reason is that some illustration projects are simple and quick and some are more demanding.
Scanning websites to see what strangers made two years ago from companies that you would never apply to is not going to help you in any way. You must reach a place where you're comfortable enough to just start applying for work and forget about predicting your income. You will see that if you start reading current employment notices, many of the notices state the salary, however, once you interview, the employer can tell you the exact salary. It's just not something you can map out before you start working.
If you are that concerned about money, you can take a job doing something else that pays a lot and do the illustration work on the side. There's no guarantee as to how much money you can or will make next week or five years from now, so it's not the best use of time to try to figure it out. Just start applying for illustrator jobs and projects and get started. If you are only concerned about money, consider freelancing and registering as an Illustrator on Illustrator Directories where you can set your own fee. Try registering at the directory websites Creative Howl, Directory of Illustration, and Linked In. You can set your own fee for your work. Clients may give you a payment offer and it's up to you to accept it or not.
So if you really want to get started on your career and jump the hurdle of the money, get started and see what happens. That's exactly what everyone does when they begin their career. Things like being overly concerned about pay can hold a person back so re-set your perspective about work, move forward and keep creating !
Well, there are some reasons why you will not know your salary before you are even working for a company or on an illustration project.
Salaries are assigned to work on an employer basis - meaning, whatever the employer, company or client OFFERS is what the salary is. You do not set out with a salary in your mind, insisting that's what you'd accept, you either accept or refuse AN OFFER of a salary. Salaries are not standard. It will also depend if you freelance for clients or work full time or part time for a company. Or both freelance as well as work for a company. You need to love illustration so much that salary doesn't matter. It's definitely a career that can build over time. Another reason is that some illustration projects are simple and quick and some are more demanding.
Scanning websites to see what strangers made two years ago from companies that you would never apply to is not going to help you in any way. You must reach a place where you're comfortable enough to just start applying for work and forget about predicting your income. You will see that if you start reading current employment notices, many of the notices state the salary, however, once you interview, the employer can tell you the exact salary. It's just not something you can map out before you start working.
If you are that concerned about money, you can take a job doing something else that pays a lot and do the illustration work on the side. There's no guarantee as to how much money you can or will make next week or five years from now, so it's not the best use of time to try to figure it out. Just start applying for illustrator jobs and projects and get started. If you are only concerned about money, consider freelancing and registering as an Illustrator on Illustrator Directories where you can set your own fee. Try registering at the directory websites Creative Howl, Directory of Illustration, and Linked In. You can set your own fee for your work. Clients may give you a payment offer and it's up to you to accept it or not.
So if you really want to get started on your career and jump the hurdle of the money, get started and see what happens. That's exactly what everyone does when they begin their career. Things like being overly concerned about pay can hold a person back so re-set your perspective about work, move forward and keep creating !
That gives me a lot to think about... thank you !
Cass
You are very welcome, Cass ! I am hoping for the best for you !
Michelle M.