Art Directors pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $141,820 or more. The middle half of art directors in Knoxville earn between $62,060 and $106,380.
- $46K10th
- $62K25th
- $80KMedian
- $106K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,500 | $7,792 | $44.95 |
| Median | $79,500 | $6,625 | $38.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,060 | $5,172 | $29.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,380 | $8,865 | $51.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Art directors in Knoxville earn 14% less than the Tennessee average ($108,720) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -31% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $93,500 | $79,500 | $46,440 | $141,820 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $108,720 | $89,860 | $50,530 | $172,130 | 930 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $93,500, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $74,607 a year, or $6,217 a month and $2,870 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $93,500 buys what about $101,006 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 4th of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($121,210).
- Nashville$121,210
- Memphis$99,340
- Chattanooga$98,710
- Knoxville$93,500
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Knoxville?
$44.95 an hour on average, and $38.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $74,607 a year ($6,217 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,500. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do art directors earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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