What does a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earning $78,370 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $71,375 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $45,750 | $41,666 | $-4,083 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $66,660 | $60,710 | $-5,949 |
| Median (P50) | $78,370 | $71,375 | $-6,994 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $94,950 | $86,475 | $-8,474 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $99,720 | $90,819 | $-8,900 |
While $78,370 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $71,375. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #7 out of 38 states for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Washington earns a median salary of $78,370 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $71,375 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Washington: $78,370 x (100 / 109.8) = $71,375. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators's nominal salary of $78,370 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $71,375. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.