Art Directors Salary by State
The national median pay for art directors is $114,850 a year. By state, it ranges from $60,460 in Kansas to $149,320 in Massachusetts.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $64,900
- 25th percentile
- $82,480
- Median
- $114,850
- 75th percentile
- $162,640
- Top 10%
- $213,050
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 53,070 jobs.
Median pay in 46 states
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $149,320 | +30% | $78,470 | $218,270 | 1,850 |
| 2 | California | $137,780 | +20% | $81,500 | $249,210 | 12,430 |
| 3 | New York | $137,320 | +20% | $80,060 | $280,320 | 8,720 |
| 4 | Oregon | $133,840 | +17% | $89,390 | $216,700 | 1,040 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $132,000 | +15% | $70,990 | $169,950 | 160 |
| 6 | Vermont | $129,260 | +13% | $77,360 | $153,890 | 80 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $129,200 | +12% | $87,700 | $195,450 | 1,840 |
| 8 | Washington | $121,170 | +6% | $69,690 | $215,900 | 650 |
| 9 | Georgia | $110,430 | −4% | $49,990 | $198,360 | 1,420 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $109,700 | −4% | $70,810 | $177,680 | 920 |
| 11 | Utah | $106,500 | −7% | $55,230 | $164,030 | 290 |
| 12 | Indiana | $105,690 | −8% | $61,990 | $185,690 | 350 |
| 13 | Illinois | $103,550 | −10% | $69,200 | $172,050 | 2,960 |
| 14 | Virginia | $101,150 | −12% | $64,010 | $165,010 | 670 |
| 15 | Missouri | $100,940 | −12% | $60,590 | $162,340 | 780 |
| 16 | Maine | $100,300 | −13% | $39,950 | $161,030 | Not published |
| 17 | Colorado | $99,990 | −13% | $73,110 | $162,610 | 720 |
| 18 | Florida | $99,660 | −13% | $56,780 | $163,450 | 2,520 |
| 19 | Maryland | $98,400 | −14% | $61,160 | $175,690 | 570 |
| 20 | Nevada | $98,070 | −15% | $60,000 | $185,100 | 290 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $97,450 | −15% | $65,470 | $149,940 | 1,250 |
| 22 | Ohio | $94,390 | −18% | $57,740 | $148,080 | 1,050 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $90,000 | −22% | $56,460 | $142,740 | Not published |
| 24 | Tennessee | $89,860 | −22% | $50,530 | $172,130 | 930 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $89,300 | −22% | $48,920 | $154,410 | 40 |
| 26 | Texas | $88,270 | −23% | $55,730 | $172,130 | 2,480 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $87,990 | −23% | $64,380 | $180,030 | 550 |
| 28 | Michigan | $86,660 | −25% | $54,590 | $166,880 | 1,080 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $83,640 | −27% | $56,780 | $187,000 | 160 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $83,170 | −28% | $53,200 | $104,290 | 30 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $81,130 | −29% | $58,470 | $131,850 | 730 |
| 32 | Iowa | $80,940 | −30% | $62,990 | $126,990 | 280 |
| 33 | Idaho | $80,680 | −30% | $51,990 | $155,210 | Not published |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $80,680 | −30% | $62,960 | $143,260 | 290 |
| 35 | Alabama | $77,220 | −33% | $56,540 | $131,700 | 210 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $76,160 | −34% | $42,990 | $121,940 | 320 |
| 37 | Alaska | $75,200 | −35% | $60,260 | $104,990 | 40 |
| 38 | Montana | $73,850 | −36% | $45,700 | $96,030 | 100 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $73,270 | −36% | $54,530 | $102,590 | 140 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | $72,550 | −37% | $56,730 | $194,000 | 90 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $71,930 | −37% | $52,990 | $130,030 | 240 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $71,900 | −37% | $69,990 | $161,580 | 1,160 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $66,610 | −42% | $56,730 | $85,530 | 30 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $66,020 | −43% | $44,020 | $174,410 | 90 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $63,550 | −45% | $45,370 | $111,080 | 30 |
| 46 | Kansas | $60,460 | −47% | $38,350 | $121,470 | Not published |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Art Directors salary questions
Which state pays art directors the most?
Massachusetts, with a median of $149,320 a year (+30% vs. the national median of $114,850). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays art directors the least?
Kansas, with a median of $60,460 a year (−47% vs. national).
Where do most art directors work?
California has the most jobs, about 12,430, with a median of $137,780.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.