How much does an art director make in Washington?
$106,000a year
Median yearly pay for art directors in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $50.96 an hour or $8,833 a month.
- Hourly
- $50.96
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 32 of 116
- Jobs in the area
- 820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $56,360Median: $106,000Highest 10%: $168,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,360 | $27.10 | |
| 25th | $80,530 | $38.72 | |
| Median | $106,000 | $50.96 | |
| 75th | $131,000 | $62.98 | |
| 90th | $168,300 | $80.93 |
Other cities in District of Columbia
Median yearly pay for art directors.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Washington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Musician and Singer | $133,600 |
| Artist and Related Worker | $125,100 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Worker | $121,700 |
| Writer and Author | $108,500 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $101,700 |
| News Analyst | $101,000 |
| Producer and Director | $100,300 |
| Technical Writer | $99,910 |
| Interpreter and Translator | $94,510 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $92,760 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an art director make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $50.96 ($106,000 a year).
Do art directors make more in Washington than the national average?
No: $106,000 against $114,900 nationally, 8% less.
Where does Washington rank for art director pay?
32 of 116 metro areas with data.
How much does an art director make starting out in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $56,360 or less a year; the top 10% make $168,300 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.