Craft Artists Career, Salary and Skills
Craft Artists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $46,080 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 4,580. Wage data is published for 37 locations.
Occupation description
Create or reproduce handmade objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.
O*NET code
27-1012.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$46,080
Hourly median
$22.15
Employment
4,580
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Persuasion | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | 2.75 | 2.62 |
| Writing | 2.75 | 2.75 |
Typical tasks
- Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics.
- Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
- Develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
- Apply finishes to objects being crafted.
- Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
- Set specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes.
- Advertise products and work, using media such as internet advertising and brochures.
- Sketch or draw objects to be crafted.
Technology
- DRAWSTITCH Artistic Sewing Suite
- Electric Quilt Quilt Design Wizard
- Email software
- Embroidery design software
- Floriani MDQ My Decorative Quilter
- John Hesselberth and Ron Roy GlazeMaster
- Pattern design software
- Sales management software
- SmugMug Flickr
- Web browser software
Craft Artists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Craft Artists Salary in TXMedian $54,690 · Employment 870
- Craft Artists Salary in MIMedian $25,960 · Employment 290
- Craft Artists Salary in FLMedian $48,710 · Employment 270
- Craft Artists Salary in PAMedian $41,600 · Employment 230
- Craft Artists Salary in WIMedian $58,650 · Employment 190
- Craft Artists Salary in Detroit, MIMedian $25,960 · Employment 190
- Craft Artists Salary in OHMedian $38,070 · Employment 180
- Craft Artists Salary in CAMedian $100,540 · Employment 170
- Craft Artists Salary in ORMedian $51,060 · Employment 170
- Craft Artists Salary in MOMedian $61,780 · Employment 140
- Craft Artists Salary in MNMedian $27,560 · Employment 140
- Craft Artists Salary in Portland, ORMedian $51,060 · Employment 130
Related careers
- Shoe and Leather Workers and RepairersNational median $37,800
- Furniture FinishersNational median $44,540
- Set and Exhibit DesignersNational median $75,240
- Interior DesignersNational median $67,190
- Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersNational median $46,680
- Graphic DesignersNational median $62,960
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, ManufacturingNational median $46,170
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticNational median $46,170
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.