- Salary statistics
- Portrait painter
Portrait painter
41 395 - 39 779 kr / month
Kultur, media, design
Salary progression Portrait painter
What does a portrait painter do? – Tasks and work environment
A portrait painter works on creating artistic representations of people, often on commission. Tasks include preparing canvases and choosing materials, meeting clients, photographing or sitting as a model, and painting portraits with high detail. The profession requires both technical skills and artistic sensibility, as each portrait should capture both appearance and personality of the subject. Portrait painters are usually self-employed or freelancers and often work in their own studio, but sometimes also on-site at clients' locations, schools, or public environments.
Salary development over time
The salary for portrait painters has shown a steady increase over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 36200 kr per month. In 2023, it increased to 38 400 kr, which corresponds to an increase of about 6%. In 2024, the average salary has risen further to 39 779 kr, a growth of approximately 4% from the previous year. This positive trend can partly be explained by increased demand for artistic services and general salary development within creative professions. However, the market for portrait painters is relatively limited and competitive, which means that salary increases often reflect experience, reputation, and market willingness to pay.
Portrait painter salary – complete overview
- Average salary: 39 779 kr/month
- Lowest/Highest salary: Data not available
- Hourly wage: 239 kr/hour
- Gender differences: No specific data on gender salary differences
- Regional differences: No specific statistics available
Education and qualifications
To work as a portrait painter, a generally artistic education is required, often at an art school or university specializing in visual arts. Many portrait painters also supplement their education with technical courses and internships to develop their style and technique. Educational paths are flexible, and it is common to combine formal education with self-study and continuous professional development.
- Artistic higher education: 3–5 years at art schools or universities
- Short courses: For example, portrait painting, anatomy, color theory
- Internship or apprenticeship: Opportunities for guidance from established artists
- Prerequisites: Usually high school education with an artistic focus
- Self-study: Common to develop personal expression and technique
Many portrait painters find their assignments through networking and social media, where digital presence can be crucial for visibility and securing commissions. Combining traditional craftsmanship with digital marketing has become an increasingly important success factor.
Common benefits and compensations
Portrait painters often work as self-employed and therefore rarely have access to benefits offered within permanent employment, such as occupational pension or wellness allowances. In cases where portrait painters are employed, there may be insurance, opportunities for further training, and some equipment or studio space as benefits. Compensation is usually project-based or hourly, with variation depending on the scope of the assignment.
Competition and challenges
The market for portrait painters is limited and highly competitive, especially since demand for traditional portraiture varies. Many work as freelancers and depend on marketing themselves and finding clients. Digitalization and new techniques have also affected the profession, as clients sometimes request digital portraits or work with photographers instead of painters. Building a strong personal brand and network is often key to success, while economic uncertainty and uneven workload can pose challenges.
Tips for aspiring portrait painters
To succeed as a portrait painter, perseverance and creativity are essential, as patience and self-motivation are needed to establish oneself. Developing technical skills through continuous training and education is crucial, along with social skills and networking to increase opportunities for assignments. Flexibility and adaptability are important, as client needs and work vary. Building a strong portfolio and showcasing work digitally can make a big difference, as well as staying updated on new techniques and trends in portraiture. Finally, having business understanding is important, as many portrait painters run their own businesses and are responsible for pricing and customer relations.
Key facts about Portrait Painters
- Average salary: 39 779 kr/month
- Hourly wage: 239 kr
- Education: Artistic higher education or equivalent experience
- Work form: Self-employed or freelancer
- Number of job openings in the profession: 620
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, a portrait painter often builds a client base and can undertake more advanced or larger projects, such as public commissions or collaborations with galleries. Some move on to combine portrait painting with teaching, illustration, or other artistic activities. The employment agency’s forecasts are uncertain for portrait painters, as the profession is part of a larger occupational group with no specific assessment due to limited data. Nonetheless, there is some demand within the cultural sector, and in the broader group of visual artists, there were 620 job openings at the latest measurement. Future prospects are strongly influenced by economic cycles, cultural policies, and the individual’s ability to market their services.
Frequently asked questions about Portrait Painters
- What is the average salary of a portrait painter?
- A portrait painter has an average monthly salary of 39 779 kr. - What is the salary trend for portrait painters?
- Salaries have increased steadily over recent years, with a growth of about 10% between 2022 and 2024. - What education is required to become a portrait painter?
- Usually, artistic higher education or equivalent experience, along with specialized courses in painting, are required. - Is it common to work as a self-employed artist?
- Yes, most portrait painters are self-employed or freelancers working on a project basis. - Are there many job openings in the profession?
- In the occupational group of visual artists, there were 620 job openings at the latest measurement. - What personal qualities are important for a portrait painter?
- Creativity, accuracy, patience, and good social skills are central qualities. - Are there significant regional salary differences?
- There is no clear information about regional salary differences for portrait painters.
Salary distributed by age and sector
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Portrait painter has the SSYK code 2651, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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