Self-employed creatives
How many creatives are self-employed in Hawaii?
Hawaii had 9,901 creative businesses with no employees in 2024, across seven creative industries in Census Nonemployer Statistics. That is 0.5% of the US total, 39th of the 50 states and DC. 5,273 of them were independent artists, writers and performers.
- 9,901creative nonemployer businesses, 2024
- 0.5%of the US total
- $36,755average receipts per business
- 39th of 51the 50 states and DC, by count
Which kinds of creative work do the self-employed in Hawaii do?
Photographers stand out: they are 15.6% of Hawaii's creative nonemployers, against 11.4% nationally. Advertising and PR are under-represented (8.5% here, 10.3% nationally).
| Independent artists, writers and performers | 5,273 | 53.3% | 52% | 37th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photographers | 1,542 | 15.6% | 11.4% | 36th |
| Specialised design | 1,137 | 11.5% | 13.3% | 40th |
| Film and video | 569 | 5.7% | 6.2% | 34th |
| Sound recording | 144 | 1.5% | 2.1% | 39th |
| Performing arts companies | 398 | 4% | 4.8% | 41st |
| Advertising and PR | 838 | 8.5% | 10.3% | 40th |
Independent artists, writers and performers, and photographers, are exactly those industries. The other five are the narrowest groups Census publishes that contain the creative work, so they include some non-creative businesses.
How much do self-employed creatives in Hawaii take in?
Together they reported $363.9 million in receipts, an average of $36,755 per business, close to the US average of $37,340. Advertising and PR average the most, $57,811 each. Receipts are takings before costs, not profit.
| Independent artists, writers and performers | $154.3 million | $29,254 |
|---|---|---|
| Photographers | $61.2 million | $39,700 |
| Specialised design | $58.4 million | $51,355 |
| Film and video | $25.2 million | $44,295 |
| Sound recording | $4.76 million | $33,069 |
| Performing arts companies | $11.6 million | $29,239 |
| Advertising and PR | $48.4 million | $57,811 |
How does Hawaii compare with similar states?
Maine and Mississippi have more; the rest have fewer.
| Maine | 10,678 | 6,512 | $27,240 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 10,297 | 4,956 | $24,901 |
| New Hampshire | 9,587 | 5,255 | $34,017 |
| Nebraska | 8,786 | 4,498 | $25,460 |
Questions
How many self-employed artists and writers are there in Hawaii?
5,273 businesses with no employees were classed as independent artists, writers and performers in Hawaii in 2024 (Census Nonemployer Statistics, NAICS 711510). They reported $154.3 million in receipts.
How many self-employed photographers are there in Hawaii?
1,542 photography businesses with no employees in 2024.
What counts as a nonemployer business?
A business with no paid employees, at least $1,000 a year in receipts, that files federal income tax: mostly sole proprietors. A side business counts the same as a full-time one.
Get the Slice Weekly
One free email every Friday: tools for creators and the best advice we found from people who make things.
Where do these numbers come from?
U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, 2024 state files (the latest year published), all legal forms.
n = 9,901 businesses in Hawaii. Last updated 2 October 2026.
Get the data
Free · CSV and JSON · 2 files
This page’s own figures as a CSV, and the full files behind How many creatives work for themselves?. One email unlocks every download on Slice’s data pages.
- This page’s figures (CSV) Every table and figure on this page, with its source line.
- Every state, year and group (CSV) Census nonemployer counts and receipts for seven creative groups: the US and every state, every year from 2014 to 2024.
- All three sources (JSON) The Census series and receipt bands, the BLS self-employment shares by occupation and the UK DCMS figures.
Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit “Slice (tryslicemedia.com)” and link to this page. Leave the box unticked and we send you nothing. Everything on this page stays free to read without an email.
Other states
- California 328,340
- New York 194,888
- Texas 164,192
- Florida 156,918
- Illinois 73,202
- Georgia 72,540
- Pennsylvania 68,386
- North Carolina 62,151
- New Jersey 59,537
- Ohio 57,974
- Tennessee 55,922
- Michigan 53,335
- Virginia 50,034
- Washington 49,873
- Massachusetts 49,726