Art Directors
Art Directors (SOC 27-1011) earn a median $114,850 a year ($55.22 an hour) in the United States, with 53,070 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Massachusetts.
What art directors do
Art directors set design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media such as print, broadcasting, video, and film, and direct the people who produce artwork or layouts. They work with creative directors to develop design solutions, confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads and with clients to learn objectives, budgets, and presentation needs, and formulate basic layout designs, specifying details such as type style and size, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound. They review and approve art, copy, and proofs of printed copy, create custom illustrations or graphic elements, present final layouts to clients, and manage their own accounts and projects within budgets and schedules. Art directors guide creative work, which separates the role from set and exhibit designers, who are counted separately. Creative art director, art supervisor, and artistic director are among the titles O*NET lists.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Art Administrator, Art Coordinator, Art Director, Art Manager, Art Supervisor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $31.20 | $39.65 | $55.22 | $78.19 | $102.43 | $62.23 | 53,070 |
| Annual | $64,900 | $82,480 | $114,850 | $162,640 | $213,050 | $129,440 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where art directors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $37.73 | $48.70 | $71.79 | $81.59 | $104.94 | $70.69 | 1,850 | 0.51 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $78,470 | $101,290 | $149,320 | $169,710 | $218,270 | $147,040 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $39.18 | $51.19 | $66.24 | $92.49 | $119.81 | $75.03 | 12,430 | 0.68 | 2.00 |
| Annual | $81,500 | $106,470 | $137,780 | $192,380 | $249,210 | $156,060 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $38.49 | $50.84 | $66.02 | $95.35 | $134.77 | $76.54 | 8,720 | 0.90 | 2.64 |
| Annual | $80,060 | $105,750 | $137,320 | $198,330 | $280,320 | $159,200 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $42.97 | $49.67 | $64.34 | $89.06 | $104.18 | $73.31 | 1,040 | 0.53 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $89,390 | $103,310 | $133,840 | $185,240 | $216,700 | $152,490 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $34.13 | $39.91 | $63.46 | $64.67 | $81.71 | $56.36 | 160 | 0.24 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $70,990 | $83,020 | $132,000 | $134,520 | $169,950 | $117,230 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $39.18 | $51.19 | $66.24 | $92.49 | $119.81 | $75.03 | 12,430 | 0.68 | 2.00 |
| Annual | $81,500 | $106,470 | $137,780 | $192,380 | $249,210 | $156,060 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $38.49 | $50.84 | $66.02 | $95.35 | $134.77 | $76.54 | 8,720 | 0.90 | 2.64 |
| Annual | $80,060 | $105,750 | $137,320 | $198,330 | $280,320 | $159,200 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $33.27 | $38.38 | $49.79 | $64.75 | $82.72 | $55.23 | 2,960 | 0.49 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $69,200 | $79,820 | $103,550 | $134,680 | $172,050 | $114,870 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $27.30 | $35.43 | $47.91 | $60.67 | $78.58 | $50.58 | 2,520 | 0.25 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $56,780 | $73,680 | $99,660 | $126,200 | $163,450 | $105,200 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $26.79 | $36.30 | $42.44 | $52.08 | $82.75 | $48.84 | 2,480 | 0.18 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $55,730 | $75,510 | $88,270 | $108,320 | $172,130 | $101,580 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $55.66 | $64.46 | $81.80 | $102.70 | $132.19 | $87.80 | 600 | 0.53 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $115,770 | $134,070 | $170,140 | $213,610 | $274,950 | $182,620 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $42.53 | $58.82 | $79.43 | $100.46 | $133.52 | $81.70 | 2,390 | 1.01 | 2.95 |
| Annual | $88,460 | $122,350 | $165,210 | $208,960 | $277,730 | $169,940 | ||||
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | Hourly | $40.52 | $50.48 | $73.99 | $73.99 | $75.47 | $62.66 | 50 | 0.42 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $84,280 | $104,990 | $153,890 | $153,890 | $156,980 | $130,330 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $38.79 | $50.64 | $72.99 | $81.59 | $104.94 | $71.02 | 1,550 | 0.57 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $80,680 | $105,330 | $151,820 | $169,710 | $218,270 | $147,730 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $46.19 | $49.78 | $69.91 | $99.92 | $107.84 | $76.26 | 880 | 0.73 | 2.14 |
| Annual | $96,070 | $103,530 | $145,410 | $207,830 | $224,310 | $158,630 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $40.89 | $52.30 | $68.74 | $95.27 | $130.39 | $77.46 | 8,980 | 0.95 | 2.77 |
| Annual | $85,040 | $108,780 | $142,990 | $198,160 | $271,220 | $161,120 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $40.25 | $51.72 | $66.14 | $92.28 | $114.58 | $75.33 | 6,590 | 1.05 | 3.08 |
| Annual | $83,720 | $107,590 | $137,560 | $191,950 | $238,320 | $156,680 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $35.48 | $38.57 | $50.28 | $64.84 | $83.05 | $56.06 | 2,560 | 0.57 | 1.66 |
| Annual | $73,800 | $80,230 | $104,570 | $134,860 | $172,750 | $116,590 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $42.53 | $58.82 | $79.43 | $100.46 | $133.52 | $81.70 | 2,390 | 1.01 | 2.95 |
| Annual | $88,460 | $122,350 | $165,210 | $208,960 | $277,730 | $169,940 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $38.79 | $50.64 | $72.99 | $81.59 | $104.94 | $71.02 | 1,550 | 0.57 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $80,680 | $105,330 | $151,820 | $169,710 | $218,270 | $147,730 | ||||
Top industries employing art directors
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services employ 30.2% of art directors nationally (16,040 jobs) at a median $121,490 a year ($58.41 an hour), followed by Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (8.6%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (6.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services NAICS 541800 | 16,040 | 30.2% | $121,490 | $58.41 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 4,550 | 8.6% | $95,200 | $45.77 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 3,240 | 6.1% | $136,020 | $65.40 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 3,080 | 5.8% | $142,570 | $68.54 |
| Specialized Design Services NAICS 541400 | 3,070 | 5.8% | $107,990 | $51.92 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (53,070). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $100,890 for art directors in May 2021 and $114,850 in May 2025, with employment of 42,080 and 53,070.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $100,890 | $48.51 | 42,080 |
| May 2022 | $105,180 | $50.57 | 54,470 |
| May 2023 | $106,500 | $51.20 | 51,200 |
| May 2024 | $111,040 | $53.38 | 50,370 |
| May 2025 | $114,850 | $55.22 | 53,070 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts profile | $71.79 | $149,320 | $78,470 | $218,270 | 1,850 | 0.51 | 1.49 |
| 2 | California profile | $66.24 | $137,780 | $81,500 | $249,210 | 12,430 | 0.68 | 2.00 |
| 3 | New York profile | $66.02 | $137,320 | $80,060 | $280,320 | 8,720 | 0.90 | 2.64 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $64.34 | $133,840 | $89,390 | $216,700 | 1,040 | 0.53 | 1.55 |
| 5 | New Hampshire profile | $63.46 | $132,000 | $70,990 | $169,950 | 160 | 0.24 | 0.70 |
| 6 | Vermont profile | $62.14 | $129,260 | $77,360 | $153,890 | 80 | 0.28 | 0.82 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $62.12 | $129,200 | $87,700 | $195,450 | 1,840 | 0.43 | 1.26 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $58.25 | $121,170 | $69,690 | $215,900 | 650 | 0.18 | 0.54 |
| 9 | Georgia profile | $53.09 | $110,430 | $49,990 | $198,360 | 1,420 | 0.29 | 0.85 |
| 10 | Minnesota profile | $52.74 | $109,700 | $70,810 | $177,680 | 920 | 0.31 | 0.92 |
| 11 | Utah profile | $51.20 | $106,500 | $55,230 | $164,030 | 290 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| 12 | Indiana profile | $50.81 | $105,690 | $61,990 | $185,690 | 350 | 0.11 | 0.32 |
| 13 | Illinois profile | $49.79 | $103,550 | $69,200 | $172,050 | 2,960 | 0.49 | 1.42 |
| 14 | Virginia profile | $48.63 | $101,150 | $64,010 | $165,010 | 670 | 0.16 | 0.48 |
| 15 | Missouri profile | $48.53 | $100,940 | $60,590 | $162,340 | 780 | 0.27 | 0.78 |
| 16 | Maine profile | $48.22 | $100,300 | $39,950 | $161,030 | ** | ** | ** |
| 17 | Colorado profile | $48.07 | $99,990 | $73,110 | $162,610 | 720 | 0.25 | 0.73 |
| 18 | Florida profile | $47.91 | $99,660 | $56,780 | $163,450 | 2,520 | 0.25 | 0.74 |
| 19 | Maryland profile | $47.31 | $98,400 | $61,160 | $175,690 | 570 | 0.21 | 0.60 |
| 20 | Nevada profile | $47.15 | $98,070 | $60,000 | $185,100 | 290 | 0.19 | 0.56 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $46.85 | $97,450 | $65,470 | $149,940 | 1,250 | 0.21 | 0.60 |
| 22 | Ohio profile | $45.38 | $94,390 | $57,740 | $148,080 | 1,050 | 0.19 | 0.55 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $43.27 | $90,000 | $56,460 | $142,740 | ** | ** | ** |
| 24 | Tennessee profile | $43.20 | $89,860 | $50,530 | $172,130 | 930 | 0.28 | 0.83 |
| 25 | Hawaii profile | $42.93 | $89,300 | $48,920 | $154,410 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| 26 | Texas profile | $42.44 | $88,270 | $55,730 | $172,130 | 2,480 | 0.18 | 0.52 |
| 27 | South Carolina profile | $42.30 | $87,990 | $64,380 | $180,030 | 550 | 0.24 | 0.70 |
| 28 | Michigan profile | $41.66 | $86,660 | $54,590 | $166,880 | 1,080 | 0.25 | 0.72 |
| 29 | Louisiana profile | $40.21 | $83,640 | $56,780 | $187,000 | 160 | 0.08 | 0.24 |
| 30 | North Dakota profile | $39.98 | $83,170 | $53,200 | $104,290 | 30 | 0.08 | 0.23 |
| 31 | Wisconsin profile | $39.00 | $81,130 | $58,470 | $131,850 | 730 | 0.25 | 0.73 |
| 32 | Iowa profile | $38.92 | $80,940 | $62,990 | $126,990 | 280 | 0.18 | 0.52 |
| 33 | Idaho profile | $38.79 | $80,680 | $51,990 | $155,210 | ** | ** | ** |
| 34 | Oklahoma profile | $38.79 | $80,680 | $62,960 | $143,260 | 290 | 0.17 | 0.49 |
| 35 | Alabama profile | $37.13 | $77,220 | $56,540 | $131,700 | 210 | 0.10 | 0.30 |
| 36 | Kentucky profile | $36.61 | $76,160 | $42,990 | $121,940 | 320 | 0.16 | 0.47 |
| 37 | Alaska profile | $36.16 | $75,200 | $60,260 | $104,990 | 40 | 0.12 | 0.35 |
| 38 | Montana profile | $35.50 | $73,850 | $45,700 | $96,030 | 100 | 0.19 | 0.56 |
| 39 | Nebraska profile | $35.23 | $73,270 | $54,530 | $102,590 | 140 | 0.14 | 0.40 |
| 40 | Rhode Island profile | $34.88 | $72,550 | $56,730 | $194,000 | 90 | 0.19 | 0.55 |
| 41 | Arkansas profile | $34.58 | $71,930 | $52,990 | $130,030 | 240 | 0.18 | 0.54 |
| 42 | Connecticut profile | $34.57 | $71,900 | $69,990 | $161,580 | 1,160 | 0.68 | 2.00 |
| 43 | South Dakota profile | $32.02 | $66,610 | $56,730 | $85,530 | 30 | 0.07 | 0.21 |
| 44 | Mississippi profile | $31.74 | $66,020 | $44,020 | $174,410 | 90 | 0.08 | 0.23 |
| 45 | West Virginia profile | $30.56 | $63,550 | $45,370 | $111,080 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.14 |
| 46 | Kansas profile | $29.07 | $60,460 | $38,350 | $121,470 | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Arizona profile | * | * | * | * | 450 | 0.14 | 0.40 |
| – | District of Columbia profile | * | * | * | * | 310 | 0.44 | 1.30 |
| – | New Mexico profile | * | * | * | * | 60 | 0.06 | 0.19 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-1010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-1011 Art Directors.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-1011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-1011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.