Art Directors pay range in Asheville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,510 or more. The middle half of art directors in Asheville earn between $48,430 and $87,020.
- $39K10th
- $48K25th
- $73KMedian
- $87K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,360 | $6,197 | $35.75 |
| Median | $72,710 | $6,059 | $34.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,430 | $4,036 | $23.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $87,020 | $7,252 | $41.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Asheville vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Art directors in Asheville earn 22% less than the North Carolina average ($95,460) and 43% less than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $74,360 | $72,710 | $38,580 | $115,510 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $95,460 | $90,000 | $56,460 | $142,740 | n/a |
| 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 Asheville
On the average salary of $74,360, a single filer in Asheville takes home about $58,684 a year, or $4,890 a month and $2,257 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Asheville a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Asheville area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.5), so the average $74,360 buys what about $77,052 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Asheville ($46,870). A typical home costs $428,742, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other North Carolina cities
Asheville ranks 7th of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($113,550).
- Raleigh$113,550
- Greensboro$100,380
- Charlotte$97,260
- Durham$95,580
- Wilmington$91,870
- Winston-Salem$90,800
- Asheville$74,360
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 Asheville: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Asheville?
$35.75 an hour on average, and $34.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Asheville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Asheville?
About $58,684 a year ($4,890 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,360.
Do art directors earn more in Asheville than elsewhere?
The average here is 43% less than 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 Asheville, NC (11700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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