Art Director salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Art Directors in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $93,740 a year ($45.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,550 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 4% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $90,000. There are 0.29 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $95,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,250 | $12.62 |
| 25th percentile | $56,780 | $27.30 |
| Median | $93,740 | $45.07 |
| 75th percentile | $119,790 | $57.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,550 | $76.23 |
| Average (mean) | $95,580 | $45.95 |
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 | $7,811.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,905.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,605.38 |
| Weekly | $1,802.69 |
| Hourly | $45.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Art Director salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $103,990 | 200 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $93,270 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $90,000 | n/a |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $85,610 | 100 |
| Wilmington, NC | $84,730 | 40 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $84,100 | 90 |
| Asheville, NC | $72,710 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for art directors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $149,320 |
| California | $137,780 |
| New York | $137,320 |
| Oregon | $133,840 |
| New Hampshire | $132,000 |
| Vermont | $129,260 |
| New Jersey | $129,200 |
| Washington | $121,170 |
| Georgia | $110,430 |
| Minnesota | $109,700 |
See Art Director pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $63,580 | $30.57 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Interior Designer | $61,670 | $29.65 |
| Floral Designer | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $88,190 | $42.40 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $109,320 | $52.56 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $76,970 | $37.01 |
| Technical Writer | $94,520 | $45.44 |
| Producers and Directors | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Editor | $80,410 | $38.66 |
| Photographer | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| Writers and Authors | $84,130 | $40.45 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for art directors in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $93,740 a year, or $45.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of art directors in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $158,550 a year. The top 25% earn $119,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,250 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $56,780 or less.
How many art directors work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 100 art directors are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.