Art Director Salary in San Diego, CA
Art Directors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $126,050 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,289 take-home, or $7,357 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median art director salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,986
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,815
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,828
- California income tax$7,493
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,639
- Take-home pay$88,289
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Art Director pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,140 | $37.57 | $59,747 | $4,979 |
| 25th percentile | $98,570 | $47.39 | $71,955 | $5,996 |
| Median (50th) | $126,050 | $60.60 | $88,289 | $7,357 |
| 75th percentile | $165,330 | $79.49 | $110,974 | $9,248 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $211,550 | $101.71 | $139,239 | $11,603 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,050 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median art director's $88,289 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,909 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.2× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $126,050 | $88,289 | $78,909 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 19 metros →
Art Director salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $170,140
- San Francisco, CA — $165,210
- Los Angeles, CA — $137,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make in San Diego, CA?
The median art director salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $126,050 a year, or about $60.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,570 and $165,330.
What is a art director’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $126,050 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $88,289 a year ($7,357 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,132 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a art director?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $114,850. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,909 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #12 of 19 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a art director afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median art director’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Technical Writer — $101,750
- Producer and Director — $99,520
- Public Relations Specialist — $81,240
- Interior Designer — $80,640
- Editor — $78,870
- Audio and Video Technician — $59,470
- Coach and Scout — $47,230
- Floral Designer — $44,960
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $44,420
- Photographer — $44,030