The average salary for an illustrator in California is around $58,240 per year.
Avg Salary
Illustrators earn an average yearly salary of $58,240.
Wages typically start from $36,300 and go up to $207,320.
29% above national average Updated in 2025
Illustrator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level illustrator earnings begin at:
$99.67 per hour
$207,320 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level illustrator earnings begin at:
$74.30 per hour
$154,540 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level illustrator earnings begin at:
$28.00 per hour
$58,240 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level illustrator earnings begin at:
$18.06 per hour
$37,560 per year
10th percentile
Starting level illustrator earnings begin at:
$17.45 per hour
$36,300 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Illustrator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $98,540 |
| Nevada | $81,630 |
| New York | $78,870 |
| Washington | $72,430 |
| Connecticut | $71,210 |
| Maryland | $66,180 |
| Georgia | $65,010 |
| New Mexico | $63,090 |
| New Jersey | $62,170 |
| Minnesota | $61,730 |
| California | $58,240 |
| Utah | $57,270 |
| Arizona | $56,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,270 |
| Illinois | $53,850 |
| Wisconsin | $53,350 |
| Colorado | $51,910 |
| Florida | $50,360 |
| Missouri | $49,820 |
| Texas | $49,650 |
| Kentucky | $48,050 |
| Virginia | $47,930 |
| Oklahoma | $47,830 |
| New Hampshire | $47,380 |
| Massachusetts | $47,120 |
| Indiana | $46,844 |
| Maine | $46,170 |
| Iowa | $44,380 |
| North Carolina | $43,310 |
| Vermont | $42,670 |
| Louisiana | $40,700 |
| Nebraska | $39,800 |
| Michigan | $38,650 |
| Montana | $34,110 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,340 |
| Arkansas | $32,340 |
| Ohio | $31,780 |
| Tennessee | $30,720 |
| Kansas | $25,830 |
| Mississippi | $21,510 |
| South Carolina | $19,650 |
How do illustrator salaries compare to similar careers?
Illustrators earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than urban planners but more than motion picture projectionists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Urban planner salary | $110K |
| Craft artist salary | $101K |
| Industrial designer salary | $101K |
| Camera operator salary | $107K |
| Exhibit designer salary | $105K |
| Illustrator salary | $58K |
| Film and video editor salary | $88K |
| Interior designer salary | $80K |
| Graphic designer salary | $75K |
| Motion picture projectionist salary | $75K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)