How much does an art director make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $55.22 an hour or $9,571 a month.
- Hourly
- $55.22
- Average (mean)
- $129,400
- Jobs
- 53,070
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,900 | $31.20 | |
| 25th | $82,480 | $39.65 | |
| Median | $114,900 | $55.22 | |
| 75th | $162,600 | $78.19 | |
| 90th | $213,100 | $102.43 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Massachusetts | $149,300 |
| California | $137,800 |
| New York | $137,300 |
| Oregon | $133,800 |
| New Hampshire | $132,000 |
| Vermont | $129,300 |
| New Jersey | $129,200 |
| Washington | $121,200 |
| Georgia | $110,400 |
| Minnesota | $109,700 |
| Utah | $106,500 |
| Indiana | $105,700 |
| Illinois | $103,600 |
| Virginia | $101,200 |
| Missouri | $100,900 |
| Maine | $100,300 |
| Colorado | $99,990 |
| Florida | $99,660 |
| Maryland | $98,400 |
| Nevada | $98,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,450 |
| Ohio | $94,390 |
| North Carolina | $90,000 |
| Tennessee | $89,860 |
| Hawaii | $89,300 |
| Texas | $88,270 |
| South Carolina | $87,990 |
| Michigan | $86,660 |
| Louisiana | $83,640 |
| North Dakota | $83,170 |
| Wisconsin | $81,130 |
| Iowa | $80,940 |
| Idaho | $80,680 |
| Oklahoma | $80,680 |
| Alabama | $77,220 |
| Kentucky | $76,160 |
| Alaska | $75,200 |
| Montana | $73,850 |
| Nebraska | $73,270 |
| Rhode Island | $72,550 |
| Arkansas | $71,930 |
| Connecticut | $71,900 |
| South Dakota | $66,610 |
| Mississippi | $66,020 |
| West Virginia | $63,550 |
| Kansas | $60,460 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $170,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $165,200 |
| Burlington, VT | $153,900 |
| Boston, MA | $151,800 |
| Portland, OR | $145,400 |
| New York, NY | $143,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $137,600 |
| Waterbury, CT | $133,700 |
| Worcester, MA | $131,200 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $126,400 |
| San Diego, CA | $126,100 |
| Seattle, WA | $124,600 |
| Stockton, CA | $123,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $121,900 |
| Trenton, NJ | $121,500 |
In other countries
Art Director belongs to the international group "Film, stage and related directors and producers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Craft Artist$46,080
- Fine Artist$55,490
- Special Effects Artist and Animator$102,000
- Artist and Related Worker$71,240
- Commercial and Industrial Designer$83,910
- Fashion Designer$80,960
- Floral Designer$37,360
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$39,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does an art director make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $55.22 ($114,900 a year).
How much does an art director make a month?
About $9,571 a month before tax, based on a median of $114,900 a year.
How much does an art director make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $64,900 or less a year ($31.20 an hour); the top 10% make $213,100 or more.
Which state pays art directors the most?
Massachusetts, with a median of $149,300 a year, followed by California ($137,800) and New York ($137,300).
Which city pays art directors the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $170,100 a year.
How many art directors are there in the United States?
About 53,070 people work as art directors.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.