About 60 percent of artists are self-employed freelance workers.
Becoming an artist is a dream career for many people with passion for design, illustration, painting and sculpting. Most businesses and organizations have infrequent needs for artwork, so more artists work on a freelance basis than as traditional salaried employees. Salary and freelance positions each have benefits and drawbacks. It's important to know the roles and responsibilities of each style of work while planning a career as an artist.
Stability
The biggest difference between freelance and salaried work is stability. Salaried artists know who they will be working for and what they'll be doing long term. Freelance artists rely on several different clients with varying needs. Low demand sometimes causes freelancers to have trouble finding work, but they also experience situations where high demand can cause them to spend more time working than they intended. While the uncertainty of long-term employment is a fear for many freelance artists, they are able to control how many clients they work with, allowing them to reduce workload if they become uncomfortable. They are also able to diversify their work to gain a wider range of experience that can help gain future jobs.
Income
The income of freelance artists varies widely. While the "starving artist" stereotype is an actual possibility, many of the wealthiest artists do freelance work. Income is heavily dependent on experience and reputation. Salaried artists have less diverse incomes. In May 2008, salaried craft artists had a median annual wage of $29,080 while painters, sculptors, illustrators and other fine artists had a median annual wage of $42,650. Salaried multimedia artists and animators had a median annual wage of $56,330. While some employers provide benefits like health insurance for salaried artists, freelancers generally cover these costs themselves.
Work Environment
Salaried artists usually work in office buildings, studios and warehouses while freelance artists have more control over where they work. Some work in private studios, lofts or even their own homes. The hours worked by salaried artists are usually typical of a standard work week. They may sometimes work overtime but generally stick to a rigid time schedule set by their employer. Most freelance artists are able to set their own schedule. As long as they reach deadlines set by their clients, they are normally able to work how often and whenever they choose.
Taxes
Self-employment tax is an important distinction between salaried and freelance artists. The employer is required to pay half of a salaried artist's Social Security and Medicare taxes while the artist pays the other half. Because freelance workers do not have a traditional employer, they are required to cover both portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes. The self-employment tax rate for 2011 was 13.3% of income.
