The average salary for a calligrapher in California is around $60,540 per year.
Avg Salary
Calligraphers earn an average yearly salary of $60,540.
Wages typically start from $36,580 and go up to $109,390.
16% below national average Updated in 2025
Calligrapher earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$52.59 per hour
$109,390 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$40.89 per hour
$85,060 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$29.11 per hour
$60,540 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$17.59 per hour
$36,580 per year
10th percentile
Starting level calligrapher earnings begin at:
$17.59 per hour
$36,580 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Calligrapher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $94,890 |
| District of Columbia | $90,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,260 |
| New Jersey | $85,500 |
| Ohio | $82,280 |
| North Carolina | $81,850 |
| South Carolina | $77,480 |
| Minnesota | $75,940 |
| Illinois | $75,930 |
| New York | $73,260 |
| Oregon | $71,490 |
| Colorado | $69,860 |
| Alabama | $68,960 |
| Kentucky | $66,790 |
| Indiana | $65,530 |
| North Dakota | $64,470 |
| Texas | $64,060 |
| Michigan | $63,830 |
| Wisconsin | $63,530 |
| Missouri | $63,130 |
| Alaska | $63,080 |
| California | $60,540 |
| Vermont | $59,560 |
| Louisiana | $59,380 |
| New Hampshire | $58,640 |
| Nevada | $56,200 |
| Hawaii | $54,240 |
| Washington | $51,810 |
| Arizona | $49,320 |
| Florida | $45,870 |
| Arkansas | $45,530 |
| New Mexico | $44,580 |
| Utah | $43,190 |
| Tennessee | $43,030 |
| Iowa | $39,550 |
| Idaho | $36,640 |
| Oklahoma | $28,000 |
| Maryland | $128,610 |
| Georgia | $119,680 |
| Virginia | $111,530 |
| Connecticut | $103,740 |
| West Virginia | $101,400 |
How do calligrapher salaries compare to similar careers?
Calligraphers earn 13% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than illustrators but more than engravers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Illustrator salary | $58K |
| Sculptor salary | $58K |
| Painter salary | $58K |
| Art therapist salary | $98K |
| Photographer salary | $48K |
| Calligrapher salary | $61K |
| Jeweler salary | $61K |
| Potter salary | $49K |
| Engraver salary | $46K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)