What is the typical salary range for a Art Director?

Pay typically falls between $85,500 and $168,500 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Art Director Salary: $134,000 Average

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Average base salary

$134,000 / year

≈ $11,150 per month · $64.42 per hour

LocationOr metro area

25th percentile
$85,500Average
$134,00075th percentile
$168,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Art Director salary by state

Alabama$88,000

Alaska$82,000

Arkansas$85,000

California$161,500

Colorado$116,000

Connecticut$105,000

Florida$109,000

Georgia$121,000

Hawaii$95,000

Idaho$93,000

Illinois$119,000

Indiana$126,500

Iowa$94,500

Kansas$79,500

Kentucky$83,000

Louisiana$101,500

Maine$106,500

Maryland$114,500

Massachusetts$152,000

Michigan$101,500

Minnesota$122,000

Mississippi$82,000

Missouri$112,500

Montana$73,500

Nebraska$80,000

Nevada$115,000

New Hampshire$121,500

New Jersey$141,000

New York$165,000

North Carolina$99,000

North Dakota$86,000

Ohio$104,000

Oklahoma$96,000

Oregon$158,000

Pennsylvania$106,500

Rhode Island$99,000

South Carolina$109,500

South Dakota$72,000

Tennessee$112,500

Texas$105,000

Utah$114,500

Vermont$127,000

Virginia$111,500

Washington$135,000

West Virginia$72,000

Wisconsin$98,500

About this role

Art Director is a professional role in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family, focused on Art Director work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

How this role compares

Art Director pays 55% above the average across 41 roles in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family (family average $86,500).

Similar-paying roles in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Musicians and Singers$130,000

Actor$125,500

Producers and Directors$117,500

Special Effects Artists and Animators$117,000

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$106,000

Technical Writer$100,500

Commercial and Industrial Designers$96,500

Fashion Designer$94,500

Music Directors and Composers$93,500

Film and Video Editors$89,000

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Art Director make?

The average base salary for a Art Director in the United States is $134,000 per year, or about $64.42 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $85,500 and $168,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media roles?

The Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family averages $86,500 across 41 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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