Art Director Salary
Art Directors earn a median $114,850 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
What art directors do
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)
- Openings per year
- 12,200
- Self-employed
- 62%
Employment of art directors is projected to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 12,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Art Director take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,437
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,121
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,665
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$89,627
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,900 | $31.20 | $54,327 |
| 25th percentile | $82,480 | $39.65 | $66,855 |
| Median (50th) | $114,850 | $55.22 | $89,627 |
| 75th percentile | $162,640 | $78.19 | $122,430 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,050 | $102.43 | $158,538 |
Best cities for art directors (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $165,210 | $110,904 | $95,927 | 2,390 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $142,990 | $101,604 | $90,264 | 8,980 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $137,560 | $94,936 | $83,596 | 6,590 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $104,570 | $77,364 | $74,679 | 2,560 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $165,210
- New York, NY — $142,990
- Los Angeles, CA — $137,560
- Chicago, IL — $104,570
Art Director salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $149,320 | +13.9% | $106,080 | $78,470 – $218,270 | 1,850 |
| California | $137,780 | +2.9% | $95,064 | $81,500 – $239,200+ | 12,430 |
| New York | $137,320 | +0.5% | $98,063 | $80,060 – $239,200+ | 8,720 |
| Oregon | $133,840 | −9.8% | $91,796 | $89,390 – $216,700 | 1,040 |
| New Hampshire | $132,000 | +29.6% | $101,488 | $70,990 – $169,950 | 160 |
| Vermont | $129,260 | +36.5% | $93,544 | $77,360 – $153,890 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $129,200 | +2.5% | $93,534 | $87,700 – $195,450 | 1,840 |
| Washington | $121,170 | −15.6% | $94,073 | $69,690 – $215,900 | 650 |
| Georgia | $110,430 | −16.1% | $81,409 | $49,990 – $198,360 | 1,420 |
| Minnesota | $109,700 | +11.6% | $80,068 | $70,810 – $177,680 | 920 |
| Utah | $106,500 | +17.0% | $79,926 | $55,230 – $164,030 | 290 |
| Indiana | $105,690 | +7.2% | $80,095 | $61,990 – $185,690 | 350 |
| Illinois | $103,550 | +3.0% | $76,696 | $69,200 – $172,050 | 2,960 |
| Virginia | $101,150 | +5.7% | $74,987 | $64,010 – $165,010 | 670 |
| Missouri | $100,940 | +7.4% | $76,034 | $60,590 – $162,340 | 780 |
| Maine | $100,300 | +28.3% | $73,715 | $39,950 – $161,030 | — |
| Colorado | $99,990 | +6.9% | $75,482 | $73,110 – $162,610 | 720 |
| Florida | $99,660 | +6.4% | $78,941 | $56,780 – $163,450 | 2,520 |
| Maryland | $98,400 | −1.8% | $73,744 | $61,160 – $175,690 | 570 |
| Nevada | $98,070 | +9.3% | $77,822 | $60,000 – $185,100 | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,450 | +8.3% | $74,394 | $65,470 – $149,940 | 1,250 |
| Ohio | $94,390 | +2.2% | $73,420 | $57,740 – $148,080 | 1,050 |
| North Carolina | $90,000 | +0.5% | $69,063 | $56,460 – $142,740 | — |
| Tennessee | $89,860 | +18.5% | $72,047 | $50,530 – $172,130 | 930 |
| Hawaii | $89,300 | −17.6% | $66,396 | $48,920 – $154,410 | 40 |
| Texas | $88,270 | +10.4% | $70,928 | $55,730 – $172,130 | 2,480 |
| South Carolina | $87,990 | +33.1% | $66,609 | $64,380 – $180,030 | 550 |
| Michigan | $86,660 | −0.1% | $66,363 | $54,590 – $166,880 | 1,080 |
| Louisiana | $83,640 | +26.7% | $65,548 | $56,780 – $187,000 | 160 |
| North Dakota | $83,170 | — | $66,977 | $53,200 – $104,290 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $81,130 | −5.0% | $62,986 | $58,470 – $131,850 | 730 |
| Iowa | $80,940 | +0.5% | $63,347 | $62,990 – $126,990 | 280 |
| Idaho | $80,680 | +7.6% | $62,421 | $51,990 – $155,210 | — |
| Oklahoma | $80,680 | +10.9% | $62,503 | $62,960 – $143,260 | 290 |
| Alabama | $77,220 | +0.1% | $59,558 | $56,540 – $131,700 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $76,160 | +11.3% | $59,861 | $42,990 – $121,940 | 320 |
| Alaska | $75,200 | +23.3% | $61,733 | $60,260 – $104,990 | 40 |
| Montana | $73,850 | −4.4% | $57,972 | $45,700 – $96,030 | 100 |
| Nebraska | $73,270 | −2.3% | $57,921 | $54,530 – $102,590 | 140 |
| Rhode Island | $72,550 | +11.2% | $57,765 | $56,730 – $194,000 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $71,930 | +6.8% | $56,840 | $52,990 – $130,030 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $71,900 | −28.8% | $57,032 | $69,990 – $161,580 | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $66,610 | — | $55,690 | $56,730 – $85,530 | 30 |
| Mississippi | $66,020 | — | $53,318 | $44,020 – $174,410 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $63,550 | — | $51,114 | $45,370 – $111,080 | 30 |
| Kansas | $60,460 | −13.4% | $48,186 | $38,350 – $121,470 | — |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $102,030 | Bachelor's degree | -0.3% |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | Bachelor's degree | -2.9% |
| Craft Artist | $46,080 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $83,910 | Bachelor's degree | +2.4% |
| Fashion Designer | $80,960 | Bachelor's degree | +0.1% |
| Set and Exhibit Designer | $75,240 | Bachelor's degree | +1.4% |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | Bachelor's degree | +2.7% |
| Designers, All Other | $64,950 | Bachelor's degree | +1.2% |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | Bachelor's degree | -1.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make?
The national median salary for art directors is $114,850 a year ($55.22 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,900 and the top 10% earn over $213,050. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays art directors the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median pay at $149,320. After taxes and local prices, San Francisco, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many art directors are there in the U.S.?
About 53,070 people work as art directors nationwide.