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Top 15 cities for art directors by average salary
| San Jose, CA | $182,620 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $169,940 |
| New York, NY | $161,120 |
| Portland, OR | $158,630 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $156,680 |
| Boston, MA | $147,730 |
| Stockton, CA | $147,650 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $144,450 |
| San Diego, CA | $137,320 |
| Worcester, MA | $133,850 |
| Seattle, WA | $133,830 |
| Oxnard, CA | $130,960 |
| Burlington, VT | $130,330 |
| Waterbury, CT | $128,810 |
| Trenton, NJ | $128,590 |
Map: Art Directors salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Art Directors salary by state
| State | Metros | Highest average | Lowest average |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 12 | $182,620 | $113,570 |
| New York | 6 | $161,120 | $103,220 |
| Oregon | 2 | $158,630 | $103,750 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $147,730 | $133,850 |
| Washington | 2 | $133,830 | $100,720 |
| Vermont | 1 | $130,330 | $130,330 |
| Connecticut | 3 | $128,810 | $109,120 |
| New Jersey | 2 | $128,590 | $114,670 |
| Indiana | 1 | $127,190 | $127,190 |
| Minnesota | 1 | $122,430 | $122,430 |
| Texas | 4 | $122,130 | $93,670 |
| Tennessee | 4 | $121,210 | $93,500 |
| Georgia | 2 | $117,930 | $114,190 |
| Utah | 2 | $117,340 | $112,120 |
| Illinois | 2 | $116,590 | $93,040 |
| Colorado | 4 | $116,170 | $98,780 |
| Maine | 1 | $115,360 | $115,360 |
| Missouri | 4 | $114,080 | $83,310 |
| North Carolina | 7 | $113,550 | $74,360 |
| Nevada | 2 | $112,020 | $110,610 |
| Washington, D.C. | 1 | $111,400 | $111,400 |
| Louisiana | 2 | $111,130 | $90,700 |
| South Carolina | 4 | $110,950 | $93,900 |
| Florida | 6 | $110,560 | $81,170 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | $110,300 | $90,940 |
| Idaho | 1 | $108,490 | $108,490 |
| Ohio | 5 | $106,430 | $92,310 |
| Michigan | 4 | $106,420 | $93,820 |
| Maryland | 1 | $105,160 | $105,160 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $104,400 | $104,400 |
| Virginia | 2 | $102,330 | $95,480 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | $99,250 | $87,620 |
| Iowa | 2 | $97,060 | $93,530 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $96,560 | $94,170 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $92,010 | $80,730 |
| Arkansas | 2 | $90,790 | $76,830 |
| Arizona | 1 | $90,520 | $90,520 |
| Alabama | 1 | $90,420 | $90,420 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $87,370 | $87,370 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $86,800 | $86,800 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $80,400 | $78,160 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $74,680 | $74,680 |
| Kansas | 1 | $63,540 | $63,540 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $56,510 | $56,510 |
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Art Directors salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $182,620 | $170,140 | $87.80 | 600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $169,940 | $165,210 | $81.70 | 2,390 |
| New York, NY | $161,120 | $142,990 | $77.46 | 8,980 |
| Portland, OR | $158,630 | $145,410 | $76.26 | 880 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $156,680 | $137,560 | $75.33 | 6,590 |
| Boston, MA | $147,730 | $151,820 | $71.02 | 1,550 |
| Stockton, CA | $147,650 | $123,420 | $70.98 | 30 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $144,450 | $126,410 | $69.45 | 40 |
| San Diego, CA | $137,320 | $126,050 | $66.02 | 630 |
| Worcester, MA | $133,850 | $131,240 | $64.35 | 100 |
| Seattle, WA | $133,830 | $124,610 | $64.34 | 520 |
| Oxnard, CA | $130,960 | $121,920 | $62.96 | 100 |
| Burlington, VT | $130,330 | $153,890 | $62.66 | 50 |
| Waterbury, CT | $128,810 | $133,680 | $61.93 | 70 |
| Trenton, NJ | $128,590 | $121,540 | $61.82 | 90 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $127,190 | $105,270 | $61.15 | 160 |
| Syracuse, NY | $125,230 | $118,560 | $60.21 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $123,560 | $109,420 | $59.41 | 60 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $122,430 | $119,020 | $58.86 | 780 |
| Austin, TX | $122,130 | $100,690 | $58.72 | 400 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $122,050 | $117,110 | $58.68 | 60 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $121,830 | $109,500 | $58.57 | 50 |
| Nashville, TN | $121,210 | $101,470 | $58.28 | 520 |
| Riverside, CA | $120,670 | $104,360 | $58.01 | 320 |
| Sacramento, CA | $119,720 | $106,390 | $57.56 | 310 |
| Hartford, CT | $119,660 | $113,180 | $57.53 | 180 |
| Atlanta, GA | $117,930 | $111,480 | $56.70 | 1,190 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $117,340 | $109,470 | $56.42 | 180 |
| Chicago, IL | $116,590 | $104,570 | $56.06 | 2,560 |
| Rochester, NY | $116,390 | $102,070 | $55.96 | 190 |
| Boulder, CO | $116,170 | $107,130 | $55.85 | 80 |
| Albany, NY | $116,140 | $101,300 | $55.84 | n/a |
| Portland, ME | $115,360 | $110,420 | $55.46 | 40 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $114,670 | $107,770 | $55.13 | 50 |
| Savannah, GA | $114,190 | $117,650 | $54.90 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO | $114,080 | $101,480 | $54.84 | 420 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $113,630 | $112,050 | $54.63 | 30 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $113,570 | $110,180 | $54.60 | 40 |
| Raleigh, NC | $113,550 | $103,990 | $54.59 | 200 |
| Denver, CO | $112,360 | $99,990 | $54.02 | 520 |
| Provo, UT | $112,120 | $106,500 | $53.91 | 60 |
| Reno, NV | $112,020 | $94,650 | $53.86 | 40 |
| Washington, DC | $111,400 | $105,990 | $53.56 | 820 |
| New Orleans, LA | $111,130 | $86,630 | $53.43 | 70 |
| Charleston, SC | $110,950 | $87,610 | $53.34 | 120 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $110,610 | $98,070 | $53.18 | 250 |
| Orlando, FL | $110,560 | $102,490 | $53.16 | 450 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $110,300 | $105,260 | $53.03 | 780 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $109,180 | $93,160 | $52.49 | 30 |
| New Haven, CT | $109,120 | $95,680 | $52.46 | 60 |
| Miami, FL | $108,760 | $103,150 | $52.29 | 1,090 |
| Boise, ID | $108,490 | $85,070 | $52.16 | 60 |
| Columbus, OH | $106,430 | $101,990 | $51.17 | 250 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $106,420 | $101,880 | $51.16 | 40 |
| Baltimore, MD | $105,160 | $97,460 | $50.56 | 230 |
| Providence, RI | $104,400 | $81,820 | $50.19 | 120 |
| Eugene, OR | $103,750 | $103,440 | $49.88 | 40 |
| Detroit, MI | $103,310 | $95,390 | $49.67 | 650 |
| Buffalo, NY | $103,220 | $95,770 | $49.62 | 140 |
| Richmond, VA | $102,330 | $99,610 | $49.20 | 160 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $102,030 | $99,670 | $49.06 | 110 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $102,010 | $97,360 | $49.04 | 320 |
| Dayton, OH | $101,700 | $89,520 | $48.90 | 50 |
| Allentown, PA | $101,470 | $101,940 | $48.78 | 60 |
| Spokane, WA | $100,720 | $73,850 | $48.42 | 30 |
| Greensboro, NC | $100,380 | $85,610 | $48.26 | 100 |
| Tampa, FL | $99,930 | $90,360 | $48.05 | 310 |
| Memphis, TN | $99,340 | $89,860 | $47.76 | 100 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $99,250 | $91,260 | $47.72 | 260 |
| Madison, WI | $99,190 | $83,650 | $47.69 | 130 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $98,780 | $93,090 | $47.49 | 50 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $98,710 | $76,110 | $47.46 | 40 |
| Dallas, TX | $98,450 | $87,810 | $47.33 | 1,210 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $98,280 | $95,310 | $47.25 | 60 |
| Cleveland, OH | $98,150 | $95,420 | $47.19 | 180 |
| Houston, TX | $97,900 | $91,570 | $47.07 | 310 |
| Charlotte, NC | $97,260 | $90,000 | $46.76 | n/a |
| Columbia, SC | $97,250 | $87,990 | $46.76 | 130 |
| Des Moines, IA | $97,060 | $90,000 | $46.66 | 130 |
| Tulsa, OK | $96,560 | $81,500 | $46.43 | 90 |
| Kansas City, MO | $96,100 | $88,610 | $46.20 | n/a |
| Durham, NC | $95,580 | $93,740 | $45.95 | 100 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $95,480 | $93,270 | $45.90 | 80 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $95,440 | $96,420 | $45.88 | 180 |
| Lansing, MI | $94,810 | $81,500 | $45.58 | 60 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $94,170 | $80,680 | $45.28 | 150 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $93,900 | $85,510 | $45.15 | 40 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $93,820 | $83,050 | $45.10 | 90 |
| Columbia, MO | $93,750 | $80,060 | $45.07 | 30 |
| San Antonio, TX | $93,670 | $81,730 | $45.03 | 90 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $93,530 | $103,120 | $44.97 | 40 |
| Knoxville, TN | $93,500 | $79,500 | $44.95 | 90 |
| Peoria, IL | $93,040 | $87,790 | $44.73 | 30 |
| Akron, OH | $92,310 | $85,630 | $44.38 | 50 |
| Louisville, KY | $92,010 | $87,570 | $44.24 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $91,870 | $84,730 | $44.17 | 40 |
| Lancaster, PA | $90,940 | $83,060 | $43.72 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $90,800 | $84,100 | $43.66 | 90 |
| Fayetteville, AR | $90,790 | $76,570 | $43.65 | 120 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $90,700 | $85,090 | $43.61 | 40 |
| Tucson, AZ | $90,520 | $74,510 | $43.52 | 50 |
| Birmingham, AL | $90,420 | $78,710 | $43.47 | 110 |
| Fort Myers, FL | $88,280 | $79,740 | $42.44 | 40 |
| Green Bay, WI | $87,620 | $79,640 | $42.13 | 30 |
| Manchester, NH | $87,370 | $83,010 | $42.00 | 30 |
| Honolulu, HI | $86,800 | $77,570 | $41.73 | 30 |
| Springfield, MO | $83,310 | $70,690 | $40.06 | 40 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $81,170 | $84,990 | $39.02 | 70 |
| Lexington, KY | $80,730 | $73,960 | $38.81 | 50 |
| Omaha, NE | $80,400 | $78,420 | $38.66 | 80 |
| Lincoln, NE | $78,160 | $75,310 | $37.58 | 40 |
| Little Rock, AR | $76,830 | $69,570 | $36.94 | 70 |
| Jackson, MS | $74,680 | $71,120 | $35.90 | 30 |
| Asheville, NC | $74,360 | $72,710 | $35.75 | 50 |
| Wichita, KS | $63,540 | $53,040 | $30.55 | 80 |
| San Juan, PR | $56,510 | $57,580 | $27.17 | 80 |
Related jobs
- Graphic DesignersU.S. metro average $71,400
- Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersU.S. metro average $44,046
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorsU.S. metro average $69,547
- Commercial and Industrial DesignersU.S. metro average $95,535
- Floral DesignersU.S. metro average $40,746
- Interior DesignersU.S. metro average $75,508
- Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsU.S. metro average $119,960
- Set and Exhibit DesignersU.S. metro average $88,737
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Art Directors salary: questions
Where do art directors make the most money?
In San Jose, CA, with an average of $182,620 a year, among the 116 metro areas we cover.
What is the average art directors salary in the U.S.?
$134,942 a year across all U.S. metro areas, weighted by employment (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where is art directors pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $56,510 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1011.
- U.S. metro average: employment-weighted mean of every metro area in the OEWS file (not only the ones listed here).
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.