As of September 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Scenic Artist in the US is $48,155, equivalent to $23 per hour, $926 weekly, or $4,013 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Scenic Artist in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Scenic Artist in the US vary widely, spanning from $37,272 to $54,222. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($42,459) and 75th percentile ($51,330), while top earners (90th percentile) make $54,222 per year. This $8,871 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Attention to Detail or Surface Preparation, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Scenic Artist often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 47 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Scenic Artist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Scenic Artist Salary $37,272 US September 01, 2026
25th Percentile Scenic Artist Salary $42,459 US September 01, 2026
50th Percentile Scenic Artist Salary $48,155 US September 01, 2026
75th Percentile Scenic Artist Salary $51,330 US September 01, 2026
90th Percentile Scenic Artist Salary $54,222 US September 01, 2026
25% $42,459 10% $37,272 90% $54,222 75% $51,330 $48,155 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Scenic Artist ?

A charge artist (or charge scenic artist and also head scenic artist) leads and oversees the painting of stage, film or television scenery. The charge artist's responsibilities include methods of reproduction of color, texture, preparation and aging of all surfaces. The charge artist interprets the scenic designer's technical drawings and paint elevations, and with a crew of journeymen scenic artists, brings them to life on the actual scenery. The charge artist is also responsible for the budgeting of the finished sets along with the production designer and the art director....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
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48155

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
48540
64330
55809
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Scenic Artist in the United States. The base salary for Scenic Artist ranges from $42,459 to $51,330 with the average base salary of $48,155. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $48,540 to $64,330 with the average total cash compensation of $55,809.
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42459
51330

 

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