Research Summary. After extensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest details on art director salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Washington boasts the highest art director salary at $116,811.
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South Carolina has the lowest art director salary at $50,992.
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The national average salary for art directors is $88,367.
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The national hourly wage for art directors is $42.48.
You can read more about our specific methodology.
Background
In recent years, the importance of salary has consistently ranked as the top priority among job seekers across various demographics. Many individuals ask, “How much do art directors earn in my area?”
While several factors influence individual salary expectations, we provide comprehensive data on average art director salaries by state, reflecting different levels of experience and seniority. Although your local salary might vary slightly from the state average, these figures offer a solid baseline for what to expect.
The state offering the highest average salary for art directors remains Washington.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for art director salaries in 2026:
Let’s dive deeper into the specifics and view a comprehensive ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Art Directors By State
| Rank | State | Average Art Director Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $116,811 | $74,000 | $183,000 |
| 2 | California | $110,627 | $69,000 | $175,000 |
| 3 | Oregon | $108,462 | $69,000 | $170,000 |
| 4 | Iowa | $104,474 | $71,000 | $153,000 |
| 5 | Kansas | $101,123 | $67,000 | $150,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $99,556 | $66,000 | $149,000 |
| 7 | New York | $95,885 | $63,000 | $144,000 |
| 8 | Idaho | $95,837 | $60,000 | $151,000 |
| 9 | Alaska | $95,624 | $62,000 | $146,000 |
| 10 | Maine | $95,126 | $64,000 | $141,000 |
| 11 | Vermont | $90,667 | $60,000 | $135,000 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $89,185 | $59,000 | $133,000 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $88,390 | $60,000 | $129,000 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $88,166 | $59,000 | $129,000 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $87,365 | $58,000 | $130,000 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $84,182 | $55,000 | $128,000 |
| 17 | Nevada | $82,753 | $51,000 | $132,000 |
| 18 | Montana | $82,621 | $53,000 | $128,000 |
| 19 | Illinois | $79,944 | $53,000 | $118,000 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $77,932 | $52,000 | $116,000 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $76,487 | $49,000 | $117,000 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $74,322 | $50,000 | $109,000 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $74,135 | $47,000 | $115,000 |
| 24 | Ohio | $73,888 | $49,000 | $110,000 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $72,969 | $57,000 | $92,000 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $72,774 | $47,000 | $110,000 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $72,391 | $48,000 | $108,000 |
| 28 | Virginia | $71,727 | $47,000 | $109,000 |
| 29 | Georgia | $71,593 | $45,000 | $111,000 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $71,191 | $44,000 | $114,000 |
| 31 | Delaware | $68,672 | $45,000 | $103,000 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $67,188 | $45,000 | $99,000 |
| 33 | Michigan | $66,672 | $44,000 | $99,000 |
| 34 | Colorado | $65,840 | $43,000 | $100,000 |
| 35 | Utah | $65,717 | $41,000 | $103,000 |
| 36 | Texas | $65,480 | $40,000 | $104,000 |
| 37 | Missouri | $65,354 | $44,000 | $96,000 |
| 38 | Arizona | $64,831 | $40,000 | $103,000 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $64,326 | $42,000 | $96,000 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $63,624 | $40,000 | $101,000 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $61,868 | $42,000 | $90,000 |
| 42 | Florida | $60,202 | $37,000 | $97,000 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $60,023 | $39,000 | $90,000 |
| 44 | Indiana | $59,578 | $40,000 | $88,000 |
| 45 | Maryland | $58,553 | $38,000 | $87,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $58,294 | $38,000 | $88,000 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $56,720 | $37,000 | $84,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $53,915 | $35,000 | $81,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $51,473 | $33,000 | $80,000 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $50,992 | $32,000 | $79,000 |
Methodology: Art Director Salary By State
To accurately analyze art director salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We also incorporate actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average to establish the average pay for art directors state by state.
Art Director Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for art directors?
The highest-paid state for art directors is Washington, with an average salary of $116,811 per year.
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What city pays art directors the most?
San Francisco, CA offers the highest average salary for art directors at $123,660 annually.
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What is the lowest-paying state for art directors?
The lowest-paying state for art directors is South Carolina, with an average salary of $50,992 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
