How much does an art director make in San Diego?
$126,100a year
Median yearly pay for art directors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $60.60 an hour or $10,500 a month.
- Hourly
- $60.60
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 116
- Jobs in the area
- 630
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $78,140Median: $126,100Highest 10%: $211,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,140 | $37.57 | |
| 25th | $98,570 | $47.39 | |
| Median | $126,100 | $60.60 | |
| 75th | $165,300 | $79.49 | |
| 90th | $211,600 | $101.71 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for art directors.
| San Jose, CA | $170,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $165,200 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $137,600 |
| Oxnard, CA | $121,900 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $109,500 |
| Fresno, CA | $109,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $106,400 |
| Riverside, CA | $104,400 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $123,200 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $118,800 |
| Musician and Singer | $106,400 |
| Technical Writer | $101,800 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $99,650 |
| Producer and Director | $99,520 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $85,180 |
| Film and Video Editor | $83,480 |
| Writer and Author | $82,590 |
| Fashion Designer | $82,010 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an art director make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $60.60 ($126,100 a year).
Do art directors make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $126,100 against $114,900 nationally, 10% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $137,800, so San Diego pays 9% less.
Where does San Diego rank for art director pay?
11 of 116 metro areas with data.
How much does an art director make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $78,140 or less a year; the top 10% make $211,600 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.