FederalPay.org
Illustrator - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Illustrator"
How much does an Illustrator in the federal government get paid? $81,934.96* *Based on the 2021 average.Illustrator was the 454th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 25 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Illustrating, with an average salary of $72,589.
Government Illustrating jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Illustrating job is GS-4, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This occupation includes positions which supervise or perform work involved in laying out or executing illustrations in black and white or in color, and with retouching photographs. The work requires artistic ability, the skill to draw freehand or with drawing instruments, and the ability to use art media such as pen-and-ink, pencils, tempera, acrylics, oils, wash, watercolor, pastels, air brush, or computer-generated graphics. It also requires knowledge of the subject matter being depicted sufficient to create accurate visual representations. Knowledge of basic art principles such as color, line, form, and space is required to produce appropriately composed illustrations.
Agencies that have hired an Illustrator
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 11 | $72,589.27 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 4 | $77,947.50 |
| Agricultural Research Service | 2 | $89,863.50 |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 2 | $100,156.50 |
| Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust) | 2 | $110,455.00 |
| Bureau of Land Management | 1 | $81,893.00 |
| Geological Survey | 1 | $85,658.00 |
| Government Printing Office | 1 | $75,507.00 |
| Fpac Business Center | 1 | $94,094.00 |
Illustrator Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Illustrator is $81,934.96. The highest paid Illustrator made $113,362 in 2021.
Common Illustrator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Illustrating Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 22 |
| ZA - Administrative | 2 |
| PG - Printing Office Grades | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $28,921.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-4, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $152,771.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10 |
| Category: | Administrative and Management |
| Occupation Family: | 1000 INFORMATION AND ARTS GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-4 Paygrade
GS-4 is the starting paygrade for Illustrating jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-4 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Specialist | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Supply Clerical and Technician | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Equal Opportunity Compliance | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Education and Training Technician | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Cargo Scheduling | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Illustrating Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for an Illustrator was $56,260. Since then, the average pay has increased to $81,935 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 1020.