Art Director salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Art Directors in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $103,990 a year ($50.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,130 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 16% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $90,000. There are 0.27 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $113,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,490 | $25.24 |
| 25th percentile | $74,470 | $35.80 |
| Median | $103,990 | $50.00 |
| 75th percentile | $138,630 | $66.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,130 | $84.20 |
| Average (mean) | $113,550 | $54.59 |
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 | $8,665.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,332.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,999.62 |
| Weekly | $1,999.81 |
| Hourly | $50.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $93,740 | 100 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $61,700 | $29.67 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| Interior Designer | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Floral Designer | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $87,620 | $42.13 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $79,360 | $38.15 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $68,790 | $33.07 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $42,180 | — |
| Technical Writer | $93,580 | $44.99 |
| Producers and Directors | $67,460 | $32.43 |
| Writers and Authors | $69,100 | $33.22 |
| Editor | $76,360 | $36.71 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $46,770 | $22.49 |
| Photographer | $41,130 | $19.78 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for art directors in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $103,990 a year, or $50.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of art directors in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $175,130 a year. The top 25% earn $138,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,490 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $74,470 or less.
How many art directors work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 200 art directors are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.