Art Directors Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$81,500
- 25th Percentile — Junior$106,470
- 50th Percentile — Median$137,780
- 75th Percentile — Senior$192,380
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$249,210
Half of Art Directors in California earn more than $137,780. The top 10% make $249,210 or more, while entry-level workers start around $81,500.
Art Directors in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 46 states for Art Directors pay, at $156,060 per year (20.6% above the U.S. average of $129,440).
- 12,430 people work as Art Directors in California — 23.4% of all U.S. Art Directors jobs.
- Location quotient 2.00: Art Directors jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $81,500; the top 10% earn over $249,210.
- Hourly equivalent: $75.03 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New York at $159,200.
- Among creative jobs in California, Producers and Directors pays the most ($155,750).
Art Directors Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Art Directors here earn $156,060 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $156,060 is roughly equivalent to $109,901 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New York ($159,200), Oregon ($152,490), Massachusetts ($147,040) are the closest alternatives for Art Directors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Creative Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Producers and Directors $155,750/yr California 0.2% vs this role
- Special Effects Artists and Animators $134,360/yr California 13.9% vs this role
- Editors $111,810/yr California 28.4% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $106,560/yr California 31.7% vs this role
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $106,350/yr California 31.9% vs this role
- Public Relations Specialists $97,140/yr California 37.8% vs this role
- Interior Designers $89,740/yr California 42.5% vs this role
- Graphic Designers $86,800/yr California 44.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Art Directors salary in California?
The average Art Directors salary in California is $156,060 per year (median $137,780), which is 20.6% above the national average of $129,440.
How does California rank for Art Directors pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 46 states. The highest-paying state is New York ($159,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Art Directors make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Art Directors in California earn about $81,500 per year and the 25th percentile is $106,470.
How much do Art Directors make per hour in California?
About $75.03 per hour, based on the $156,060 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Art Directors work in California?
BLS counts 12,430 Art Directors jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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