As of May 18, 2021, the average hourly rate for a Technical Illustrator in the United States is $34, which translates to an annual salary of about $71,116.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Technical Illustrator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Technical Illustrator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Illustrator | 5-7 years | $71,116 |
| Art Manager | 7+ years | $111,013 |
| Art Director | 7+ years | $151,561 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Technical Illustrators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 4.62% |
| Graphic Design | 2.83% |
| Photoshop | 1.74% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Flexibility
|
$73,249 |
3%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$72,538 |
2%
|
|
Attention to Detail
|
$71,827 |
1%
|
|
Communication Skills
|
$71,827 |
1%
|
|
Creativity
|
$71,827 |
1%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Technical Illustrators enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Technical Illustrator with a No Diploma is between $61,907 and $66,866).
Technical Illustrator Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 1.3% |
| High School | 9.0% |
| Associates | 23.1% |
| Bachelors | 57.7% |
| Masters | 6.4% |
| Doctorate | 2.6% |
Understanding how a Technical Illustrator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on May 18, 2021Salaries for a Technical Illustrator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $61,698 in 2023 to around $61,733 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Technical Illustrator salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $61,698 |
| 2024 | $62,006 |
| 2025 | $61,733 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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Creates illustrations for use in technical manuals, product specifications, maintenance documents, advertisements, and other media. Utilizes a variety of graphic files, photo images, and sketches to create detailed technical illustrations. Produces 3-D, cutaway, or exploded views of objects. Familiar and proficient with graphic illustration and CAD software tools. Typically requires an associate degree in art, design, or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Independently performs a wide range of complex duties under general guidance from supervisors. Has gained full proficiency in a broad range of activities related to the job. Typically requires 5-7 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Graphic Design: Graphic design is the process of visual communication and problem-solving through the use of typography, photography, and illustration. The field is considered a subset of visual communication and communication design, but sometimes the term "graphic design" is used synonymously. Graphic designers create and combine symbols, images and text to form visual representations of ideas and messages. They use typography, visual arts, and page layout techniques to create visual compositions. Common uses of graphic design include corporate design (logos and branding), editorial design (magazines, newspapers and books), wayfinding or environmental design, advertising, web design, communication design, product packaging, and signage.
Photoshop: Photoshop is an image creation, graphic design and photo editing software developed by Adobe. It is used to demonstrate knowledge of image resolution, image size, and image file format for web, video, and print.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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