Art Director Salary in San Francisco, CA
Art Directors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $165,210 a year — 44% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $110,904 take-home, or $9,242 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median art director salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$28,384
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,243
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,396
- California income tax$11,135
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,148
- Take-home pay$110,904
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 San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,460 | $42.53 | $65,914 | $5,493 |
| 25th percentile | $122,350 | $58.82 | $86,153 | $7,179 |
| Median (50th) | $165,210 | $79.43 | $110,904 | $9,242 |
| 75th percentile | $208,960 | $100.46 | $137,606 | $11,467 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $277,730+ | $133.52 | $176,015 | $14,668 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $165,210 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median art director's $110,904 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,927 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 Francisco, CA has 3.0× 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 Francisco, CA ranks #1 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
- Los Angeles, CA — $137,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make in San Francisco, CA?
The median art director salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $165,210 a year, or about $79.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $122,350 and $208,960.
What is a art director’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $165,210 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $110,904 a year ($9,242 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,283 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a art director?
Pay here is 44% above the national median of $114,850. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,927 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a art director afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median art director’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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- Graphic Designer — $92,050
- Coach and Scout — $54,770