Art Director Salary in Denver, CO
Art Directors in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $99,990 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,482 take-home, or $6,290 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median art director salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,168
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,199
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,450
- Colorado income tax$3,691
- Take-home pay$75,482
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Art Director pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,930 | $35.54 | $58,295 | $4,858 |
| 25th percentile | $81,910 | $39.38 | $63,558 | $5,297 |
| Median (50th) | $99,990 | $48.07 | $75,482 | $6,290 |
| 75th percentile | $123,480 | $59.37 | $90,940 | $7,578 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,330 | $77.08 | $114,505 | $9,542 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,990 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median art director's $75,482 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,356 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Art Director jobs are about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for art directors, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #16 of 19 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $170,140 | $113,751 | $103,014 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $151,820 | $107,664 | $99,444 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $165,210 | $110,904 | $95,927 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $145,410 | $98,559 | $93,491 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $142,990 | $101,604 | $90,264 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $124,610 | $96,437 | $86,776 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $137,560 | $94,936 | $83,596 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $101,470 | $80,214 | $83,263 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $99,990 | $75,482 | $71,356 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 19 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make in Denver, CO?
The median art director salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $99,990 a year, or about $48.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,910 and $123,480.
What is a art director’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $99,990 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $75,482 a year ($6,290 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,691 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a art director?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $114,850. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,356 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #16 of 19 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a art director afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 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 Denver, CO
- Technical Writer — $103,360
- Public Relations Specialist — $82,930
- Producer and Director — $80,590
- Interior Designer — $80,150
- Editor — $78,670
- Broadcast Technician — $78,050
- Interpreter and Translator — $74,850
- Graphic Designer — $72,500
- Writer and Author — $69,100
- Audio and Video Technician — $57,970
- Photographer — $47,340
- Coach and Scout — $47,110