Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$64,900
- 25th Percentile — Junior$82,480
- 50th Percentile — Median$114,850
- 75th Percentile — Senior$162,640
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$213,050
The top 10% of Art Directors earn $213,050 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $64,900, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (est.) | $196,749 | +52.0% |
| New York | $159,200 | +23.0% |
| California | $156,060 | +20.6% |
| Oregon | $152,490 | +17.8% |
| Massachusetts | $147,040 | +13.6% |
| New Jersey | $136,160 | +5.2% |
| Delaware (est.) | $135,912 | +5.0% |
| Washington | $130,550 | +0.9% |
| Arizona (est.) | $128,146 | -1.0% |
| Vermont | $122,490 | -5.4% |
| Indiana | $122,190 | -5.6% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $120,379 | -7.0% |
| Minnesota | $117,900 | -8.9% |
| New Hampshire | $117,230 | -9.4% |
| Georgia | $117,070 | -9.6% |
| Illinois | $114,870 | -11.3% |
| New Mexico (est.) | $113,907 | -12.0% |
| Colorado | $112,040 | -13.4% |
| Nevada | $111,350 | -14.0% |
| Utah | $110,860 | -14.4% |
| Maryland | $110,790 | -14.4% |
| Tennessee | $108,720 | -16.0% |
| Missouri | $108,630 | -16.1% |
| Virginia | $107,540 | -16.9% |
| South Carolina | $105,970 | -18.1% |
| Florida | $105,200 | -18.7% |
| Maine | $102,820 | -20.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $102,660 | -20.7% |
| Texas | $101,580 | -21.5% |
| Connecticut | $101,260 | -21.8% |
| Ohio | $100,300 | -22.5% |
| Louisiana | $98,270 | -24.1% |
| Michigan | $98,020 | -24.3% |
| Rhode Island | $95,580 | -26.2% |
| North Carolina | $95,460 | -26.3% |
| Wisconsin | $95,070 | -26.6% |
| Oklahoma | $92,600 | -28.5% |
| Hawaii | $91,610 | -29.2% |
| Iowa | $91,220 | -29.5% |
| Idaho | $89,980 | -30.5% |
| Alabama | $85,210 | -34.2% |
| North Dakota | $83,170 | -35.7% |
| Arkansas | $82,350 | -36.4% |
| Kentucky | $80,360 | -37.9% |
| Mississippi | $79,440 | -38.6% |
| Alaska | $79,370 | -38.7% |
| Nebraska | $77,260 | -40.3% |
| Kansas | $76,950 | -40.6% |
| Montana | $70,850 | -45.3% |
| West Virginia | $69,420 | -46.4% |
| South Dakota | $69,360 | -46.4% |
What Factors Affect Art Directors Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Art Directors is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: New York pays an average of $159,200, while South Dakota pays $69,360 — a gap of $89,840 per year.
The middle half of Art Directors earn between $82,480 and $162,640 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,900, while the top 10% earn more than $213,050.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Graphic Designers $70,560/yr United States 45.5% vs this role
- Interior Designers $74,540/yr United States 42.4% vs this role
- Fashion Designers $91,230/yr United States 29.5% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $113,300/yr United States 12.5% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $86,090/yr United States 33.5% vs this role
- Editors $90,060/yr United States 30.4% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 21.6% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +6.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Art Directors?
The average salary for Art Directors in the United States is $129,440 per year, with a median of $114,850.
What is the starting salary for Art Directors?
Entry-level Art Directors typically earn between $64,900 and $82,480 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Art Directors the most?
New York pays Art Directors the most at $159,200 per year on average, followed by California ($156,060) and Oregon ($152,490).
How much do Art Directors make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $129,440, Art Directors earn approximately $62.23 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Art Directors a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 53,070 Art Directors jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $129,440 and a median of $114,850 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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