Art Directors Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$69,200
- 25th Percentile — Junior$79,820
- 50th Percentile — Median$103,550
- 75th Percentile — Senior$134,680
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$172,050
Half of Art Directors in Illinois earn more than $103,550. The top 10% make $172,050 or more, while entry-level workers start around $69,200.
Art Directors in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 12th of 46 states for Art Directors pay, at $114,870 per year (11.3% below the U.S. average of $129,440).
- 2,960 people work as Art Directors in Illinois — 5.6% of all U.S. Art Directors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.42: Art Directors jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $69,200; the top 10% earn over $172,050.
- Hourly equivalent: $55.23 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New York at $159,200.
- Among creative jobs in Illinois, Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture pays the most ($96,520).
Art Directors Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Art Directors here earn $114,870 on average, placing the state 12th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $114,870 is roughly equivalent to $109,400 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Indiana ($122,190), Minnesota ($117,900), New Hampshire ($117,230) 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 Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $96,520/yr Illinois 16.0% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $95,920/yr Illinois 16.5% vs this role
- Special Effects Artists and Animators $92,680/yr Illinois 19.3% vs this role
- News Analysts Reporters and Journalists $87,560/yr Illinois 23.8% vs this role
- Public Relations Specialists $86,060/yr Illinois 25.1% vs this role
- Interior Designers $85,520/yr Illinois 25.6% vs this role
- Editors $80,620/yr Illinois 29.8% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $77,240/yr Illinois 32.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Art Directors salary in Illinois?
The average Art Directors salary in Illinois is $114,870 per year (median $103,550), which is 11.3% below the national average of $129,440.
How does Illinois rank for Art Directors pay?
Illinois ranks 12th out of 46 states. The highest-paying state is New York ($159,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Art Directors make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Art Directors in Illinois earn about $69,200 per year and the 25th percentile is $79,820.
How much do Art Directors make per hour in Illinois?
About $55.23 per hour, based on the $114,870 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Art Directors work in Illinois?
BLS counts 2,960 Art Directors jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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