The average salary for an art director in the United States is around $63,818 per year.
Avg Salary
Art directors earn an average yearly salary of $63,818.
Wages typically start from $36,217 and go up to $112,452.
6% above national average Updated in 2023
Art director earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level art director earnings begin at:
$54.06 per hour
$112,452 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level art director earnings begin at:
$41.34 per hour
$85,986 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level art director earnings begin at:
$30.68 per hour
$63,818 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level art director earnings begin at:
$22.77 per hour
$47,365 per year
10th percentile
Starting level art director earnings begin at:
$17.41 per hour
$36,217 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Art director salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | $99,510 |
| Minnesota | $99,340 |
| Delaware | $98,890 |
| New Hampshire | $97,330 |
| Connecticut | $91,390 |
| North Dakota | $86,060 |
| Ohio | $82,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,820 |
| Utah | $81,630 |
| Maryland | $81,420 |
| Vermont | $80,960 |
| Rhode Island | $80,950 |
| Hawaii | $80,830 |
| Indiana | $80,650 |
| Michigan | $80,580 |
| Maine | $80,350 |
| Wisconsin | $79,180 |
| Kansas | $79,130 |
| Colorado | $78,850 |
| Iowa | $78,850 |
| Virginia | $78,790 |
| Arizona | $78,540 |
| Nevada | $78,540 |
| Texas | $78,040 |
| Missouri | $77,760 |
| Florida | $77,500 |
| Idaho | $77,500 |
| South Carolina | $77,500 |
| Tennessee | $74,260 |
| Alabama | $72,340 |
| Arkansas | $69,220 |
| Alaska | $64,930 |
| Nebraska | $64,630 |
| Oklahoma | $63,620 |
| Kentucky | $62,260 |
| New Mexico | $60,580 |
| Puerto Rico | $60,350 |
| Louisiana | $50,470 |
| Mississippi | $49,130 |
| West Virginia | $44,360 |
| New York | $132,150 |
| California | $127,710 |
| New Jersey | $117,650 |
| Washington | $116,700 |
| District of Columbia | $103,400 |
| Illinois | $103,290 |
| Georgia | $103,270 |
| Oregon | $103,170 |
| Massachusetts | $100,680 |
How do art director salaries compare to similar careers?
Art directors earn 6% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than film directors but more than precious metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Film director salary | $69K |
| Art director salary | $64K |
| Fashion designer salary | $57K |
| Industrial designer salary | $62K |
| Exhibit designer salary | $54K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)