Art Directors Salary in Washington DC, DC
Updated 2024 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsUSD $
Median Salary
$131,000
Average Salary
$137,000
Salary Range
$72,000 - $175,000
Est. Employment*
4,400
*Employment figures are estimates based on national occupational data distributed across metro areas. Actual local numbers may vary.
Search Jobs on IndeedSalary Distribution
10th to 90th percentile range. Half of all art directors earn between $99,000 and $158,000.
About Art Directors in Washington DC
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.
In Washington DC, art directors benefit from higher salaries that reflect the area's elevated cost of living. The area's major industries include Federal Government, Government Contracting, Cybersecurity.
Key Skills
Education
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.
Tips to Earn More as a Art Directors
Art Directors Salary in Other Cities
| City | Median | Range | vs Washington DC |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $155,000 | $78,000 - $213,000 | +18% |
| San Francisco, CA | $150,000 | $82,000 - $201,000 | +15% |
| Seattle, WA | $139,000 | $76,000 - $186,000 | +6% |
| Boston, MA | $134,000 | $74,000 - $179,000 | +2% |
| New York, NY | $130,000 | $72,000 - $174,000 | -1% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $129,000 | $71,000 - $173,000 | -2% |
| San Diego, CA | $121,000 | $67,000 - $162,000 | -8% |
| Anchorage, AK | $120,000 | $66,000 - $160,000 | -8% |
| Denver, CO | $119,000 | $65,000 - $159,000 | -9% |
| Austin, TX | $119,000 | $65,000 - $159,000 | -9% |
| Sacramento, CA | $118,000 | $65,000 - $158,000 | -10% |
| Honolulu, HI | $118,000 | $65,000 - $158,000 | -10% |
| Portland, OR | $117,000 | $64,000 - $156,000 | -11% |
| Chicago, IL | $115,000 | $63,000 - $154,000 | -12% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $115,000 | $63,000 - $154,000 | -12% |
| Baltimore, MD | $114,000 | $63,000 - $152,000 | -13% |
| Dallas, TX | $113,000 | $62,000 - $151,000 | -14% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $113,000 | $62,000 - $151,000 | -14% |
| Hartford, CT | $113,000 | $62,000 - $151,000 | -14% |
| Atlanta, GA | $110,000 | $61,000 - $147,000 | -16% |
| Houston, TX | $107,000 | $59,000 - $143,000 | -18% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $107,000 | $59,000 - $143,000 | -18% |
| Charlotte, NC | $107,000 | $59,000 - $143,000 | -18% |
| Raleigh, NC | $106,000 | $58,000 - $142,000 | -19% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $106,000 | $58,000 - $142,000 | -19% |
| Detroit, MI | $104,000 | $57,000 - $139,000 | -21% |
| Nashville, TN | $103,000 | $57,000 - $138,000 | -21% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $102,000 | $56,000 - $136,000 | -22% |
| Cleveland, OH | $102,000 | $56,000 - $136,000 | -22% |
| Miami, FL | $101,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | -23% |
| Columbus, OH | $101,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | -23% |
| St. Louis, MO | $101,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | -23% |
| Kansas City, MO | $101,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | -23% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $101,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | -23% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $101,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | -23% |
| Richmond, VA | $101,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | -23% |
| Buffalo, NY | $101,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | -23% |
| Orlando, FL | $100,000 | $60,000 - $130,000 | -24% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $100,000 | $60,000 - $130,000 | -24% |
| Tampa, FL | $99,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | -24% |
| San Antonio, TX | $99,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | -24% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $99,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | -24% |
| Louisville, KY | $99,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | -24% |
| New Orleans, LA | $99,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | -24% |
| Toronto, ON | $99,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | -24% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $98,000 | $59,000 - $127,000 | -25% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $98,000 | $59,000 - $127,000 | -25% |
| Memphis, TN | $98,000 | $59,000 - $127,000 | -25% |
| Tucson, AZ | $98,000 | $59,000 - $127,000 | -25% |
| Vancouver, BC | $96,000 | $58,000 - $125,000 | -27% |
| Birmingham, AL | $95,000 | $57,000 - $124,000 | -27% |
| Calgary, AB | $92,000 | $55,000 - $120,000 | -30% |
| Edmonton, AB | $90,000 | $54,000 - $117,000 | -31% |
| Ottawa, ON | $89,000 | $53,000 - $116,000 | -32% |
| Montreal, QC | $85,000 | $51,000 - $110,000 | -35% |
| Hamilton, ON | $81,000 | $49,000 - $105,000 | -38% |
| Winnipeg, MB | $80,000 | $48,000 - $104,000 | -39% |
| Quebec City, QC | $79,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | -40% |
| Halifax, NS | $79,000 | $47,000 - $103,000 | -40% |