Art Director Salary in Washington, DC
Art Directors in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $105,990 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,353 take-home, or $6,446 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median art director salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,488
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,571
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,537
- District of Columbia income tax$6,041
- Take-home pay$77,353
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Art Director pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,360 | $27.10 | $45,248 | $3,771 |
| 25th percentile | $80,530 | $38.72 | $61,606 | $5,134 |
| Median (50th) | $105,990 | $50.96 | $77,353 | $6,446 |
| 75th percentile | $130,990 | $62.98 | $92,632 | $7,719 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,330 | $80.93 | $114,980 | $9,582 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,990 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median art director's $77,353 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,042 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 less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for art directors, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $105,990 | $77,353 | $71,042 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median art director salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $105,990 a year, or about $50.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,530 and $130,990.
What is a art director’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $105,990 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $77,353 a year ($6,446 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,041 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a art director?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $114,850. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,042 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #18 of 19 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a art director afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median art director’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Artists and Related Workers, All Other — $125,050
- Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other — $121,680
- Writer and Author — $108,460
- Public Relations Specialist — $101,680
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $101,020
- Producer and Director — $100,270
- Technical Writer — $99,910
- Interpreter and Translator — $94,510
- Film and Video Editor — $91,750
- Graphic Designer — $85,420
- Editor — $84,800
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $83,320