How Much Does a Principal Artist Make in California?

Updated March 01, 2025
As of March 01, 2025, the average annual pay of Principal Artist in California is $110,361. While Salary.com is seeing that Principal Artist salary in CA can go up to $136,739 or down to $80,294, but most earn between $94,623 and $124,169. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
25% $94,623 10% $80,294 90% $136,739 75% $124,169 $110,361 50%(Median)
Related Job Titles to Principal Artist
Artist
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Principal
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$85,310
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Artist/Artist Assistant
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Similar Job Salaries to Principal Artist by Company

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Company average base salary in (usd) range
Sony Playstation
Principal Technical Artist
$94,892/yr
$81,278
$108,505
RANGE: $81,278 - $108,505
Tbwa Chiat/Day Inc
Principal Technical Artist
$94,892/yr
$81,278
$108,505
RANGE: $81,278 - $108,505
Riot Games
Senior Principal Technical Artist
$120,710/yr
$100,101
$141,319
RANGE: $100,101 - $141,319
Lightspeed Studios
Principal Technical Artist
$126,191/yr
$109,826
$142,555
RANGE: $109,826 - $142,555
Insomniac Games
Principal VFX Artist
$128,957/yr
$114,256
$143,659
RANGE: $114,256 - $143,659
Sony Playstation
Principal VFX Artist
$157,817/yr
$146,162
$169,472
RANGE: $146,162 - $169,472
Gym Class
Lead Technical Artist (Staff, Principal)
$105,809/yr
$89,326
$122,291
RANGE: $89,326 - $122,291
Activision
Principal Character Concept Artist - Treyarch (Los Angeles)
$119,023/yr
$100,897
$137,149
RANGE: $100,897 - $137,149
Insomniac Games
Principal VFX Artist Job at Insomniac Games in Torrance
$113,986/yr
$98,612
$129,360
RANGE: $98,612 - $129,360
Sony Playstation
Sony Playstation is hiring : Principal VFX Artist in Torrance
$111,292/yr
$100,208
$122,377
RANGE: $100,208 - $122,377

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Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Principal Artist Jobs in California

It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States. There are some cities where a Principal Artist can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living. Below is the top cities list for Principal Artist job salaries in California. Some cities can pay higher salaries for Principal Artist jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Principal Artist positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Principal Artist salary is higher than other cities in California. San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont. The Principal Artist salary is $125,570 in San Jose, which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Principal Artist salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Principal Artist in California is $110,361, but we found that the city with the highest salary for Principal Artist jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara. Principal Artist jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
CITY ANNUAL SALARY MONTHLY PAY WEEKLY PAY HOURLY WAGE
San Jose $125,570 $10,464 $2,415 $60
Santa Clara $125,570 $10,464 $2,415 $60
Fremont $125,370 $10,447 $2,411 $60
San Francisco $125,070 $10,422 $2,405 $60
Daly City $125,070 $10,422 $2,405 $60
Berkeley $122,068 $10,172 $2,347 $59
Oakland $122,068 $10,172 $2,347 $59
Hayward $121,868 $10,156 $2,344 $59
Antioch $115,264 $9,605 $2,217 $55
Vallejo $112,563 $9,380 $2,165 $54

What Does a Principal Artist Do?

Read what Principal Artist professionals have to say about their job experiences and view top companies for this career.
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Search principal artist and thousands of other words in English definition and synonym dictionary from Reverso.
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The Principal Artist will work closely with the Art Director and department heads to prototype and define the vision for current and upcoming projects.
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Wie hoch ist das höchste Gehalt für einen Principal Artist in Region Los Angeles, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika.
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Frequently Asked Questions About a Principal Artist Salaries

What is the average of a Principal Artist in California?

The Principal Artist salary range is from $94,623 to $124,169, and the average Principal Artist salary is $110,361/year in California. The Principal Artist's salary will change in different locations.

Which location pays the highest Principal Artist salary in the United States?

The Principal Artist salary in San Jose, CA is $125,570 which is the highest in the US.

What kinds of reasons will influence the Principal Artist's salary?

Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary. Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Principal Artist.

What is the growth rate of the Principal Artist's salary?

If you are thinking of becoming a Principal Artist or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Principal Artist.