An Art Director is a creative leader who oversees the visual style and image of a project, such as a film, advertisement, or publishing project. They coordinate with other designers, photographers, and illustrators to ensure a cohesive and appealing visual narrative, while also working with clients and stakeholders to ensure their vision is brought to life.
This article will explore the best states for art directors, based on the average annual salary for the occupation.
- 1. New York ($154,000)
- 2. California ($149,560)
- 3. District of Columbia ($140,480)
- 4. New Jersey ($126,450)
- 5. Washington ($125,270)
- 6. Massachusetts ($123,620)
- 7. Oregon ($113,950)
- 8. Illinois ($113,200)
- 9. Connecticut ($112,680)
- 10. Louisiana ($110,710)
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- The highest-paid art directors are in New York, where they earn an average of $154,000 per year.
- The lowest-paid art directors are in Georgia, where they earn an average of $-1 per year.
- The U.S. average salary for art directors is $91,962 per year.
1. New York ($154,000)
Art Directors in New York earn the highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in New York is
$154,000, which is +67% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $154,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $62,500 |
| 25th Percentile | $100,220 |
| 75th Percentile | $187,980 |
| 90th Percentile | $-3 |
2. California ($149,560)
Art Directors in California earn the 2nd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in California is
$149,560, which is +63% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $149,560 |
| 10th Percentile | $76,580 |
| 25th Percentile | $99,160 |
| 75th Percentile | $181,430 |
| 90th Percentile | $-3 |
3. District of Columbia ($140,480)
Art Directors in District of Columbia earn the 3rd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in District of Columbia is
$140,480, which is +53% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $140,480 |
| 10th Percentile | $73,990 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,190 |
| 75th Percentile | $176,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $178,500 |
4. New Jersey ($126,450)
Art Directors in New Jersey earn the 4th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in New Jersey is
$126,450, which is +38% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $126,450 |
| 10th Percentile | $76,960 |
| 25th Percentile | $99,070 |
| 75th Percentile | $148,720 |
| 90th Percentile | $173,380 |
5. Washington ($125,270)
Art Directors in Washington earn the 5th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in Washington is
$125,270, which is +36% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $125,270 |
| 10th Percentile | $69,990 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,890 |
| 75th Percentile | $140,310 |
| 90th Percentile | $217,880 |
6. Massachusetts ($123,620)
Art Directors in Massachusetts earn the 6th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in Massachusetts is
$123,620, which is +34% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $123,620 |
| 10th Percentile | $61,560 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,450 |
| 75th Percentile | $154,940 |
| 90th Percentile | $200,790 |
7. Oregon ($113,950)
Art Directors in Oregon earn the 7th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in Oregon is
$113,950, which is +24% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $113,950 |
| 10th Percentile | $59,190 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,070 |
| 75th Percentile | $133,930 |
| 90th Percentile | $183,170 |
8. Illinois ($113,200)
Art Directors in Illinois earn the 8th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in Illinois is
$113,200, which is +23% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $113,200 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,750 |
| 25th Percentile | $76,830 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,820 |
| 90th Percentile | $179,290 |
9. Connecticut ($112,680)
Art Directors in Connecticut earn the 9th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in Connecticut is
$112,680, which is +23% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $112,680 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,100 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,190 |
| 75th Percentile | $132,540 |
| 90th Percentile | $167,870 |
10. Louisiana ($110,710)
Art Directors in Louisiana earn the 10th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
art directors in Louisiana is
$110,710, which is +20% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $110,710 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,820 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,500 |
| 75th Percentile | $200,420 |
| 90th Percentile | $-3 |
Conclusion
The highest-paid art directors are in New York, where they earn an average of $154,000 per year. The lowest-paid art directors are in Georgia, where they earn an average of $-1 per year. The U.S. average salary for art directors is $91,962 per year and there are 53,796 jobs in the field.
