Magazine cover artists can earn salaries spanning a wide range, dependent upon several factors. Some of these factors include magazine circulation, the status of the artist with the magazine, and the cover requirements. These factors should be taken into consideration when attempting to determine the salary for a cover artist.
Types of Cover Artists
Cover artists are typically graphic artists or illustrators who may specialize in doing magazine covers. There are two ways to earn a living as a cover artist. You can do it as a freelance artist or as a contracted employee of the magazine. As a contracted artist, you will be guaranteed a steady salary but will likely not own the copyrights to the work you create while under contract (this can often be negotiated). A freelance artist will be able to set a fee and will retain rights (in most cases) to the work done, but there is no guarantee of income. Many freelance cover artists take on other types of work to increase their yearly income.
Salary Factors
Several factors go into determining a yearly salary for a cover artist. Many of these factors are the same for freelance and contracted artists. These factors include the circulation of a magazine, the industry the magazine is in, geographic location of a magazine's home office, and the portfolio of the cover artist. A small magazine with a limited circulation isn't likely to pay the same fee for a cover as a slick magazine with nationwide or worldwide circulation.
Freelance and Self-Employed Artists
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "about 60 percent of all artists are self-employed" and "earnings for self-employed artists vary widely; some well-established artists earn more than salaried artists." The truth is, few freelance or self-employed artists make their living solely from doing covers for magazines. The salary of a freelance illustrator or graphic design artist can range from $21,000 a year to $75,000. This figure likely includes other work besides covers for magazines, since the typical freelance cover artist (unless he is an established name) doesn't earn near the high end of the salary range doing magazine cover work alone.
Contracted Cover Artist
An artist under contract to do cover work for a magazine can earn between $39,000 and $75,000 a year. Factors that affect the income here are primarily the circulation of the magazine and the skill level of the artist. An artist with a degree in the arts and the ability to turn out a monthly cover can earn near the high end of the salary range.
