Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Alaska
$82,000 / year
≈ $6,850 per month · $39.42 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Alaska · median $78,000
25th percentile
$69,500Average
$82,00075th percentile
$97,500
$69,500Average
$82,00075th percentile
$97,500
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 within the function in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Art Directors do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- Present final layouts to clients for approval.
- Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
- Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
- Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
Top skills: Speaking Active Listening Reading Comprehension Judgment and Decision Making Critical Thinking Time Management
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Art Director pay by experience level
Entry level$67,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$85,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$119,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$168,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$220,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
12,300
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Art Director salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
27,420 workers
$131,000Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
16,040 workers
$137,000Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
4,550 workers
$118,000Publishing Industries
3,860 workers
$131,500Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
3,260 workers
$164,500Management of Companies and Enterprises
3,240 workers
$160,000Management of Companies and Enterprises
3,240 workers
$160,000Motion Picture and Video Industries
3,080 workers
$167,000Specialized Design Services
3,070 workers
$113,500Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
2,770 workers
$117,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Art Director pays 51% above the average across 45 roles in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family (family average $88,500).
Similar-paying roles in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Musicians and Singers$130,000
Actor$125,500
Media Programming Director$117,500
Technical Writer$100,500
Fashion Designer$94,500
Film and Video Editors$89,000
Careers related to Art Director
Graphic Designer$73,000
Talent Director$117,500
Project Management Specialist$114,500
Writers and Authors$89,000
Set and Exhibit Designers$86,000
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
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 $88,500 across 45 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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