Art Directors pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $230,220 or more. The middle half of art directors in Indianapolis earn between $83,130 and $155,180.
- $63K10th
- $83K25th
- $105KMedian
- $155K75th
- $230K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $127,190 | $10,599 | $61.15 |
| Median | $105,270 | $8,772 | $50.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,130 | $6,928 | $39.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $155,180 | $12,932 | $74.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Art directors in Indianapolis earn 4% more than the Indiana average ($122,190) and about the same as the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $127,190 | $105,270 | $63,090 | $230,220 | 160 |
| Indiana | $122,190 | $105,690 | $61,990 | $185,690 | 350 |
| United States | $129,440 | $114,850 | $64,900 | $213,050 | 53,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Art Directors salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $127,190, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $91,866 a year, or $7,655 a month and $3,533 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $127,190 buys what about $132,910 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in nearby metro areas
- Cincinnati, OH$102,010
- Dayton, OH$101,700
- Louisville, KY$92,010
- Lexington, KY$80,730
- Chicago, IL$116,590
- Columbus, OH$106,430
Highest-paying cities for art directors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,620).
- San Jose, CA$182,620
- San Francisco, CA$169,940
- New York, NY$161,120
- Portland, OR$158,630
- Los Angeles, CA$156,680
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Art Directors salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Indianapolis?
$61.15 an hour on average, and $50.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $91,866 a year ($7,655 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $127,190. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do art directors earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($129,440).
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; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.42, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.42).
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