Self-employed creatives
How many creatives are self-employed in New York?
New York had 194,888 creative businesses with no employees in 2024, across seven creative industries in Census Nonemployer Statistics. That ranks 2nd of the 50 states and DC and is 9.1% of the US total. 110,871 of them were independent artists, writers and performers.
- 194,888creative nonemployer businesses, 2024
- 9.1%of the US total
- $46,700average receipts per business
- 2nd of 51the 50 states and DC, by count
Which kinds of creative work do the self-employed in New York do?
Film and video stand out: they are 7.1% of New York's creative nonemployers, against 6.2% nationally. Photographers are under-represented (8.3% here, 11.4% nationally).
| Independent artists, writers and performers | 110,871 | 56.9% | 52% | 2nd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photographers | 16,125 | 8.3% | 11.4% | 4th |
| Specialised design | 24,513 | 12.6% | 13.3% | 2nd |
| Film and video | 13,920 | 7.1% | 6.2% | 2nd |
| Sound recording | 3,859 | 2% | 2.1% | 2nd |
| Performing arts companies | 8,748 | 4.5% | 4.8% | 2nd |
| Advertising and PR | 16,852 | 8.6% | 10.3% | 4th |
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 New York take in?
Together they reported $9.1 billion in receipts, an average of $46,700 per business, above the US average of $37,340. Advertising and PR average the most, $76,844 each. Receipts are takings before costs, not profit.
| Independent artists, writers and performers | $4.53 billion | $40,886 |
|---|---|---|
| Photographers | $673.7 million | $41,782 |
| Specialised design | $1.39 billion | $56,527 |
| Film and video | $757.6 million | $54,424 |
| Sound recording | $147.7 million | $38,264 |
| Performing arts companies | $308.7 million | $35,283 |
| Advertising and PR | $1.29 billion | $76,844 |
How does New York compare with its neighbours?
New York has more creative nonemployers than any bordering state.
| Connecticut | 24,879 | 12,915 | $42,339 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 49,726 | 28,312 | $33,255 |
| New Jersey | 59,537 | 29,775 | $42,217 |
| Pennsylvania | 68,386 | 37,197 | $29,910 |
| Vermont | 6,376 | 4,023 | $26,241 |
Questions
How many self-employed artists and writers are there in New York?
110,871 businesses with no employees were classed as independent artists, writers and performers in New York in 2024 (Census Nonemployer Statistics, NAICS 711510). They reported $4.53 billion in receipts.
How many self-employed photographers are there in New York?
16,125 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 = 194,888 businesses in New York. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Other states
- California 328,340
- 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
- Colorado 49,632