Self-employed creatives
How many creatives are self-employed in Illinois?
Illinois had 73,202 creative businesses with no employees in 2024, across seven creative industries in Census Nonemployer Statistics. That ranks 5th of the 50 states and DC and is 3.4% of the US total. 38,692 of them were independent artists, writers and performers.
- 73,202creative nonemployer businesses, 2024
- 3.4%of the US total
- $29,086average receipts per business
- 5th of 51the 50 states and DC, by count
Which kinds of creative work do the self-employed in Illinois do?
Performing arts companies stand out: they are 5.6% of Illinois's creative nonemployers, against 4.8% nationally. Film and video are under-represented (5.1% here, 6.2% nationally).
| Independent artists, writers and performers | 38,692 | 52.9% | 52% | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photographers | 7,918 | 10.8% | 11.4% | 7th |
| Specialised design | 9,715 | 13.3% | 13.3% | 6th |
| Film and video | 3,724 | 5.1% | 6.2% | 6th |
| Sound recording | 1,381 | 1.9% | 2.1% | 7th |
| Performing arts companies | 4,123 | 5.6% | 4.8% | 5th |
| Advertising and PR | 7,649 | 10.4% | 10.3% | 5th |
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 Illinois take in?
Together they reported $2.13 billion in receipts, an average of $29,086 per business, below the US average of $37,340. Advertising and PR average the most, $56,204 each. Receipts are takings before costs, not profit.
| Independent artists, writers and performers | $811.2 million | $20,965 |
|---|---|---|
| Photographers | $210.1 million | $26,530 |
| Specialised design | $415.7 million | $42,785 |
| Film and video | $138 million | $37,057 |
| Sound recording | $32.8 million | $23,726 |
| Performing arts companies | $91.6 million | $22,210 |
| Advertising and PR | $429.9 million | $56,204 |
How does Illinois compare with its neighbours?
Illinois has more creative nonemployers than any bordering state.
Questions
How many self-employed artists and writers are there in Illinois?
38,692 businesses with no employees were classed as independent artists, writers and performers in Illinois in 2024 (Census Nonemployer Statistics, NAICS 711510). They reported $811.2 million in receipts.
How many self-employed photographers are there in Illinois?
7,918 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.
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Where do these numbers come from?
U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, 2024 state files (the latest year published), all legal forms.
n = 73,202 businesses in Illinois. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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- All three sources (JSON) The Census series and receipt bands, the BLS self-employment shares by occupation and the UK DCMS figures.
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Other states
- California 328,340
- New York 194,888
- Texas 164,192
- Florida 156,918
- 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
- Colorado 49,632