Art Director salary in the U.S.
Art Directors in the U.S. earn a median of $114,850 a year ($55.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 53,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,050 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $129,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,900 | $31.20 |
| 25th percentile | $82,480 | $39.65 |
| Median | $114,850 | $55.22 |
| 75th percentile | $162,640 | $78.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,050 | $102.43 |
| Average (mean) | $129,440 | $62.23 |
Half of art directors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,570.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,785.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,417.31 |
| Weekly | $2,208.65 |
| Hourly | $55.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Art Director salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $149,320 | 1,850 |
| California | $137,780 | 12,430 |
| New York | $137,320 | 8,720 |
| Oregon | $133,840 | 1,040 |
| New Hampshire | $132,000 | 160 |
| Vermont | $129,260 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $129,200 | 1,840 |
| Washington | $121,170 | 650 |
| Georgia | $110,430 | 1,420 |
| Minnesota | $109,700 | 920 |
| Utah | $106,500 | 290 |
| Indiana | $105,690 | 350 |
| Illinois | $103,550 | 2,960 |
| Virginia | $101,150 | 670 |
| Missouri | $100,940 | 780 |
| Maine | $100,300 | n/a |
| Colorado | $99,990 | 720 |
| Florida | $99,660 | 2,520 |
| Maryland | $98,400 | 570 |
| Nevada | $98,070 | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,450 | 1,250 |
| Ohio | $94,390 | 1,050 |
| North Carolina | $90,000 | n/a |
| Tennessee | $89,860 | 930 |
| Hawaii | $89,300 | 40 |
| Texas | $88,270 | 2,480 |
| South Carolina | $87,990 | 550 |
| Michigan | $86,660 | 1,080 |
| Louisiana | $83,640 | 160 |
| North Dakota | $83,170 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $81,130 | 730 |
| Iowa | $80,940 | 280 |
| Idaho | $80,680 | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $80,680 | 290 |
| Alabama | $77,220 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $76,160 | 320 |
| Alaska | $75,200 | 40 |
| Montana | $73,850 | 100 |
| Nebraska | $73,270 | 140 |
| Rhode Island | $72,550 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $71,930 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $71,900 | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $66,610 | 30 |
| Mississippi | $66,020 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $63,550 | 30 |
| Kansas | $60,460 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $57,580 | 80 |
Best-paying metro areas for art directors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $170,140 | 600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $165,210 | 2,390 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $153,890 | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $151,820 | 1,550 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $145,410 | 880 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $142,990 | 8,980 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $137,560 | 6,590 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $133,680 | 70 |
| Worcester, MA | $131,240 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $126,410 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $126,050 | 630 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $124,610 | 520 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $123,420 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $121,920 | 100 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $121,540 | 90 |
Metro areas with the most art directors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 8,980 | $142,990 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,590 | $137,560 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,560 | $104,570 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,390 | $165,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,550 | $151,820 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,210 | $87,810 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,190 | $111,480 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,090 | $103,150 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 880 | $145,410 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 820 | $105,990 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 780 | $119,020 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 780 | $105,260 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 650 | $95,390 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 630 | $126,050 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 600 | $170,140 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Floral Designer | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $83,910 | $40.34 |
| Fashion Designer | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $102,030 | $49.06 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Designers, All Other | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Craft Artist | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make in the U.S.?
The median salary for art directors in the U.S. is $114,850 a year, or $55.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of art directors in the U.S. earn at least $213,050 a year. The top 25% earn $162,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,900 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $82,480 or less.
How many art directors work in the U.S.?
About 53,070 art directors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.