Art Director Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Art Directors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $137,560 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,936 take-home, or $7,911 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median art director salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,748
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,529
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,995
- California income tax$8,563
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,788
- Take-home pay$94,936
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Art Director pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,720 | $40.25 | $63,082 | $5,257 |
| 25th percentile | $107,590 | $51.73 | $77,345 | $6,445 |
| Median (50th) | $137,560 | $66.13 | $94,936 | $7,911 |
| 75th percentile | $191,950 | $92.28 | $126,809 | $10,567 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $238,320 | $114.58 | $154,482 | $12,873 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $137,560 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median art director's $94,936 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,596 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 3.1× the national concentration of art director jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for art directors, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #3 of 4 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $165,210 | $110,904 | $95,927 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $142,990 | $101,604 | $90,264 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $137,560 | $94,936 | $83,596 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $104,570 | $77,364 | $74,679 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 4 metros →
About the job: art directors
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Art Director salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $165,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median art director salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $137,560 a year, or about $66.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $107,590 and $191,950.
What is a art director’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $137,560 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $94,936 a year ($7,911 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,352 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a art director?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $114,850. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,596 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #3 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a art director afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median art director’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210
- Interior Designer — $80,000
- Public Relations Specialist — $79,860
- Sound Engineering Technician — $77,850
- Graphic Designer — $72,400
- Audio and Video Technician — $64,900
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $48,900