How much does an art director make in Chicago?
$104,600a year
Median yearly pay for art directors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $50.27 an hour or $8,714 a month.
- Hourly
- $50.27
- Vs. national median
- -9%
- Rank among cities
- 35 of 116
- Jobs in the area
- 2,560
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $73,800Median: $104,600Highest 10%: $172,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $73,800 | $35.48 | |
| 25th | $80,230 | $38.57 | |
| Median | $104,600 | $50.27 | |
| 75th | $134,900 | $64.84 | |
| 90th | $172,800 | $83.05 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for art directors.
| St. Louis, MO | $101,500 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $113,000 |
| Musician and Singer | $110,600 |
| Camera Operator | $102,400 |
| Broadcast Technician | $96,060 |
| Technical Writer | $89,960 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $89,620 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Worker | $85,400 |
| Producer and Director | $85,040 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $83,200 |
| Editor | $80,380 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an art director make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $50.27 ($104,600 a year).
Do art directors make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $104,600 against $114,900 nationally, 9% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $103,600, so Chicago pays 1% more.
Where does Chicago rank for art director pay?
35 of 116 metro areas with data.
How much does an art director make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $73,800 or less a year; the top 10% make $172,800 or more.
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.