The average salary for a calligrapher in California is around $60,540 per year.
Avg Salary
Calligraphers earn an average yearly salary of $60,540.
Wages typically start from $36,580 and go up to $109,390.
15% below national average Updated in 2025
Calligrapher earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$52.59 per hour
$109,390 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$40.89 per hour
$85,060 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$29.11 per hour
$60,540 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$17.59 per hour
$36,580 per year
10th percentile
Starting level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$17.59 per hour
$36,580 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Calligrapher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $94,890 |
| District of Columbia | $90,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,260 |
| New Jersey | $85,500 |
| Ohio | $82,280 |
| North Carolina | $81,850 |
| Oregon | $71,490 |
| Colorado | $69,860 |
| New York | $68,200 |
| Indiana | $65,530 |
| North Dakota | $64,470 |
| Texas | $64,060 |
| Michigan | $63,830 |
| Illinois | $63,540 |
| Missouri | $63,130 |
| Alaska | $63,080 |
| Alabama | $61,280 |
| California | $60,540 |
| Wisconsin | $60,530 |
| New Hampshire | $58,640 |
| Nevada | $56,200 |
| Minnesota | $47,470 |
| Florida | $45,870 |
| New Mexico | $44,580 |
| Washington | $43,470 |
| Utah | $43,190 |
| Tennessee | $43,030 |
| Arizona | $40,370 |
| Iowa | $39,550 |
| Vermont | $38,610 |
| Oklahoma | $28,000 |
| Hawaii | $23,480 |
| Maryland | $128,610 |
| Georgia | $119,680 |
| Virginia | $111,530 |
| Connecticut | $103,740 |
| West Virginia | $101,400 |
How do calligrapher salaries compare to similar careers?
Calligraphers earn 7% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than film and video editors but more than precious metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Film and video editor salary | $88K |
| Interior designer salary | $80K |
| Graphic designer salary | $75K |
| Motion picture projectionist salary | $75K |
| Photographer salary | $48K |
| Calligrapher salary | $61K |
| Museum conservator salary | $62K |
| Jeweler salary | $61K |
| Gem worker salary | $61K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $61K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)