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Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Wages by State — 2024 Rankings (BLS Data)

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media median wage by state — 2024 BLS OEWS data. Full 51-state ranking.

No signup No tracking Last updated March 2026
Data current as of March 2026 Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024

DC pays the highest median wage for arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media workers at $97,680/year, while WV is the lowest at $40,990/year. The national median is approximately $54,302/year. Data source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

Top 5 Highest Paying States

  1. 1 DC $97,680
  2. 2 NY $80,980
  3. 3 CA $77,490
  4. 4 WA $67,020
  5. 5 NJ $66,990

Bottom 5 Lowest Paying States

  1. 51 WV $40,990
  2. 50 MS $41,600
  3. 49 AR $42,090
  4. 48 SD $43,250
  5. 47 KY $44,170

National median: $54,302/year  ·  National mean hourly: /hr  ·  Wage gap (highest vs lowest): $56,690

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Median Annual Wage by State

Source: BLS OEWS 2024. Median annual wage. States sorted highest to lowest.

All States Ranked by Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Wages (2024)

Rank State Med. Annual
1 DC $97,680
2 NY $80,980
3 CA $77,490
4 WA $67,020
5 NJ $66,990
6 MA $66,690
7 MD $66,290
8 CT $65,620
9 CO $62,990
10 OR $62,370
11 RI $62,080
12 VA $60,820
13 MN $59,160
14 HI $58,180
15 IL $56,810
16 NH $56,340
17 VT $56,050
18 NV $55,240
19 DE $53,600
20 FL $53,060
21 GA $53,040
22 PA $52,910
23 WI $51,460
24 AZ $50,960
25 NM $50,820
26 UT $50,780
27 AK $50,550
28 NC $50,240
29 MI $50,080
30 MO $50,080
31 TX $49,700
32 ME $49,440
33 NE $49,370
34 IA $48,410
35 TN $48,190
36 WY $48,130
37 IN $47,830
38 OK $47,720
39 SC $47,690
40 OH $47,300
41 AL $46,780
42 LA $46,620
43 KS $46,590
44 ND $46,350
45 MT $46,220
46 ID $44,570
47 KY $44,170
48 SD $43,250
49 AR $42,090
50 MS $41,600
51 WV $40,990

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Employment counts reflect total workers in this occupation group.

Swipe right for mean hourly rate and employment data.

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Wage Rankings by Occupation Group

Compare median wages across all 22 BLS major occupation groups:

Management Business and Financial Operations Computer and Mathematical Architecture and Engineering Life, Physical, and Social Science Community and Social Service Legal Educational Instruction and Library Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Healthcare Support Protective Service Food Preparation and Serving Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Personal Care and Service Sales and Related Office and Administrative Support Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Construction and Extraction Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Production Transportation and Material Moving
Estimates only. These results are based on publicly available data and standard formulas. Actual costs may vary based on your specific circumstances. This calculator does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice on your situation.

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