Art Director Salary in New York, NY
Art Directors in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $142,990 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $101,604 take-home, or $8,467 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median art director salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$23,052
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,865
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,073
- New York income tax$7,396
- Take-home pay$101,604
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.90% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $5,107 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $96,496 ($8,041 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Art Director pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,040 | $40.88 | $64,660 | $5,388 |
| 25th percentile | $108,780 | $52.30 | $79,979 | $6,665 |
| Median (50th) | $142,990 | $68.75 | $101,604 | $8,467 |
| 75th percentile | $198,160 | $95.27 | $136,904 | $11,409 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $271,220+ | $130.39 | $181,697 | $15,141 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $142,990 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median art director's $101,604 take-home pay has the buying power of $90,264 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 2.8× 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
New York, NY ranks #2 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make in New York, NY?
The median art director salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $142,990 a year, or about $68.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $108,780 and $198,160.
What is a art director’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $142,990 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $101,604 a year ($8,467 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,396 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a art director?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $114,850. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $90,264 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #2 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a art director afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 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 New York, NY
- Producer and Director — $108,460
- Film and Video Editor — $104,590
- Editor — $102,120
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $101,670
- Fashion Designer — $99,560
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $94,890
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $93,410
- Interpreter and Translator — $87,590
- Public Relations Specialist — $84,130
- Graphic Designer — $79,280
- Interior Designer — $76,580
- Audio and Video Technician — $72,300