Art Directors Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$106,617
Highest Paying City
San Jose
$155,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Art Directors Do?
Art Directors bring ideas to life through artistic expression, design, and storytelling. They work across diverse media and platforms to create content that informs, entertains, and inspires audiences.
Work settings vary widely, from studios and offices to on-location shoots and performance venues. Many creative professionals work as freelancers or on a project basis, with irregular schedules.
Key Skills for Art Directors
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree in fine arts, design, communications, or a related field
Education requirements vary widely. Many positions value a strong portfolio and practical experience as much as formal education. A bachelor's degree is common, but talent, creativity, and a compelling body of work are often most important.
Career Outlook
Employment growth varies by specialty, but overall demand is expected to grow about as fast as average. Digital media, UX design, and content creation roles are among the fastest-growing areas.
How to Increase Your Art Directors Salary
- 1.Build a strong, diverse portfolio showcasing your best work
- 2.Master industry-standard software and tools for your specialty
- 3.Develop a personal brand and online presence to attract opportunities
- 4.Network actively through industry events, social media, and professional groups
- 5.Stay current with design trends and emerging technologies
Art Directors Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $155,000 | $169,000 | $78,000 - $213,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Francisco, CA | $150,000 | $162,000 | $82,000 - $201,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $139,000 | $155,000 | $76,000 - $186,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $134,000 | $147,000 | $74,000 - $179,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $131,000 | $137,000 | $72,000 - $175,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $130,000 | $145,000 | $72,000 - $174,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $129,000 | $134,000 | $71,000 - $173,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $121,000 | $132,000 | $67,000 - $162,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $120,000 | $122,000 | $66,000 - $160,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $119,000 | $122,000 | $65,000 - $159,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $119,000 | $125,000 | $65,000 - $159,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $118,000 | $120,000 | $65,000 - $158,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $118,000 | $126,000 | $65,000 - $158,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $117,000 | $120,000 | $64,000 - $156,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $115,000 | $122,000 | $63,000 - $154,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $115,000 | $120,000 | $63,000 - $154,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $114,000 | $127,000 | $63,000 - $152,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $113,000 | $119,000 | $62,000 - $151,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $113,000 | $119,000 | $62,000 - $151,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $113,000 | $118,000 | $62,000 - $151,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $110,000 | $123,000 | $61,000 - $147,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $107,000 | $115,000 | $59,000 - $143,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $107,000 | $113,000 | $59,000 - $143,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $107,000 | $117,000 | $59,000 - $143,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $106,000 | $110,000 | $58,000 - $142,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $106,000 | $110,000 | $58,000 - $142,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $104,000 | $115,000 | $57,000 - $139,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $103,000 | $113,000 | $57,000 - $138,000 | USD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $102,000 | $106,000 | $56,000 - $136,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $102,000 | $114,000 | $56,000 - $136,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $101,000 | $109,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $101,000 | $105,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $101,000 | $109,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $101,000 | $112,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $101,000 | $107,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $101,000 | $104,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $101,000 | $104,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $101,000 | $105,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $100,000 | $110,000 | $60,000 - $130,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $100,000 | $105,000 | $60,000 - $130,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $99,000 | $102,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $99,000 | $102,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $99,000 | $110,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $99,000 | $109,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $99,000 | $110,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $99,000 | $102,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $98,000 | $110,000 | $59,000 - $127,000 | USD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $98,000 | $107,000 | $59,000 - $127,000 | USD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $98,000 | $101,000 | $59,000 - $127,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $98,000 | $104,000 | $59,000 - $127,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $96,000 | $107,000 | $58,000 - $125,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $95,000 | $99,000 | $57,000 - $124,000 | USD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $92,000 | $94,000 | $55,000 - $120,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $90,000 | $92,000 | $54,000 - $117,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $89,000 | $93,000 | $53,000 - $116,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $85,000 | $90,000 | $51,000 - $110,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $81,000 | $90,000 | $49,000 - $105,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $80,000 | $86,000 | $48,000 - $104,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $79,000 | $85,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $79,000 | $86,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | CAD | Apply |