Art Directors
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
Also called: Art Administrator (Art Admin), Art Coordinator, Art Director, Art Manager, Art Supervisor, Artistic Director
Median pay
$114,850
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$64,900 – $213,050
People employed
53,070
Holland code
AEC
Artistic · Enterprising · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 3.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 4.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 5.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 6.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Art Directors pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (46 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What art directors do
- 01Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- 02Present final layouts to clients for approval.
- 03Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
- 04Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
- 05Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
- 06Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Design
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Fine Arts
- Communications and Media
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
- Adaptability
- Innovation
- Leadership Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from art directors
- Producers and Directors81% · −21%
- Video Game Designers76% · group pay
- Advertising and Promotions Managers73% · +16%
- Media Programming Directors72% · group pay
- Writers and Authors71% · −33%
Change into art directors
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Producers and Directors88% · $90,360
- Music Directors and Composers86% · $73,710
- Editors82% · $77,920
- Writers and Authors81% · $76,910
- Talent Directors80% · $90,360
Majors that lead here
- Digital Arts
- Graphic Design
- Intermedia/Multimedia
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.