How to reconnect with an illustrator you have lost touch with
Reconnecting works when the first message is about them, and any ask comes later. With an illustrator, 5 minutes of their time is worth about $2.22 at the U.S. median.
5 minutes of an illustrator's time at the U.S. median.
- Early career (25th percentile)
- $1.51
- Median
- $2.22
- Senior (75th percentile)
- $3.33
BLS OEWS, May 2025, Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators. Pay breakdown
The full written guide for this page is being prepared. The figures above are live, from public pay data and Introworth's own pricing.
What this ask is worth to them
| Their pay | A year | 5 minutes of their time | Fair price per message |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early career (25th percentile) | $37,560 | $1.51 | $15 |
| Median | $55,490 | $2.22 | $15 |
| Senior (75th percentile) | $83,200 | $3.33 | $15 |
U.S. pay for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators from the BLS; city rows use published BLS city medians. The fair price covers the time after Introworth's commission.
Send it where a reply is expected
On Introworth, members set a price for messages from people they don't know. Your card is held, not charged, and you pay only if they reply; the message coach checks your draft first.
Other asks for illustrators
Pay figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are computed by Introworth's price calculator. The guide text is drafted with AI from those figures and Introworth's product rules, and checked automatically before it is published. It is general guidance, not legal, tax or financial advice.