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Artistic director salary
Average artistic director salary
$72,755
Understanding the Artistic Director Salary
An Artistic Director plays a crucial role in shaping the creative direction of projects, making it a highly sought-after position in sectors like theater, film, and television. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role stands at $72,755 per year, translating to approximately $35 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, industry specialization, and years of experience.
For instance, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to their vibrant arts scenes and higher cost of living. In contrast, regions with fewer artistic opportunities may present lower salary ranges. Additionally, experience plays a significant role in determining compensation, with seasoned professionals often earning significantly more than those just starting.
As you explore opportunities in this field, consider checking salary estimates from various job boards and career sites. This approach will help you understand the salary landscape better and make informed career decisions. Whether you are an aspiring Artistic Director or an experienced professional looking to switch roles, staying informed about salary trends is vital for negotiating your worth in the marketplace.
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Where can an Artistic Director earn more?
Artistic director salary estimates from across the web
Average artistic director salary by state
The average artistic director salary in Alaska, California, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average artistic director salary states are Indiana, Tennessee, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for artistic directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $95,808 | $46.06 |
| 2 | Oregon | $90,594 | $43.55 |
| 3 | New York | $87,017 | $41.84 |
| 4 | Iowa | $76,649 | $36.85 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $84,984 | $40.86 |
| 6 | Vermont | $79,589 | $38.26 |
| 7 | Washington | $81,671 | $39.26 |
| 8 | Alaska | $133,350 | $64.11 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $75,969 | $36.52 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $67,148 | $32.28 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $72,958 | $35.08 |
| 12 | Maine | $82,850 | $39.83 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $65,051 | $31.27 |
| 14 | Idaho | $76,825 | $36.94 |
| 15 | Kansas | $75,772 | $36.43 |
| 16 | Utah | $71,978 | $34.60 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $72,632 | $34.92 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $67,813 | $32.60 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $68,615 | $32.99 |
| 20 | Michigan | $68,573 | $32.97 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $67,733 | $32.56 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $70,863 | $34.07 |
| 23 | Nevada | $68,597 | $32.98 |
| 24 | Illinois | $64,643 | $31.08 |
| 25 | Alabama | $58,650 | $28.20 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $62,643 | $30.12 |
| 27 | Georgia | $60,770 | $29.22 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $74,681 | $35.90 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $52,163 | $25.08 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $64,189 | $30.86 |
| 31 | Florida | $61,155 | $29.40 |
| 32 | Virginia | $58,841 | $28.29 |
| 33 | Ohio | $57,125 | $27.46 |
| 34 | Delaware | $65,367 | $31.43 |
| 35 | Texas | $56,524 | $27.18 |
| 36 | Montana | $59,968 | $28.83 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $61,038 | $29.35 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $47,046 | $22.62 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $50,673 | $24.36 |
| 40 | Missouri | $49,640 | $23.87 |
| 41 | Arizona | $51,226 | $24.63 |
| 42 | Maryland | $54,974 | $26.43 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $39,344 | $18.92 |
| 44 | Colorado | $47,551 | $22.86 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $54,579 | $26.24 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $50,830 | $24.44 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $45,981 | $22.11 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $44,552 | $21.42 |
| 49 | Indiana | $46,072 | $22.15 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $44,183 | $21.24 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $42,536 | $20.45 |
Highest paying cities for artistic directors
The highest-paying cities for artistic directors are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $108,949 | $52.38 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $87,534 | $42.08 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $84,609 | $40.68 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $75,976 | $36.53 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $72,645 | $34.93 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,794 | $33.07 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $67,894 | $32.64 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,722 | $32.56 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $67,628 | $32.51 |
| 10 | Wheeling, IL | $65,375 | $31.43 |
| 11 | Miami, FL | $63,692 | $30.62 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $60,129 | $28.91 |
| 13 | Birmingham, AL | $56,980 | $27.39 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $51,052 | $24.54 |
| 15 | Norman, OK | $47,676 | $22.92 |
| 16 | Fort Collins, CO | $46,472 | $22.34 |
Artistic director salary details
An artistic director's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $143,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an artistic director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $143,000 | $11,917 | $69 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| Average | $72,755 | $6,063 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying artistic director jobs
The highest paying types of artistic directors are executive creative director, senior creative director, and associate creative director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance Art Director | $85,453 | $7,121 | $41.08 | 9,215 |
| Designer/Art Director | $97,448 | $8,121 | $46.85 | 53,314 |
| Creative/Art Director | $125,743 | $10,479 | $60.45 | 10,403 |
| Director | $113,489 | $9,457 | $54.56 | 230,711 |
| Creative Services Director | $108,980 | $9,082 | $52.39 | 60,237 |
| Creative Director | $137,779 | $11,482 | $66.24 | 11,610 |
Top companies hiring artistic directors now:
Which companies pay artistic directors the most?
Artistic director salaries at Boston Public Schools and Coach are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average artistic director salary at companies like San Diego Symphony and Industrial Light & Magic are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Public Schools | $102,633 | $49.34 |
| 2 | Coach | $83,931 | $40.35 |
| 3 | San Diego Symphony | $73,314 | $35.25 |
| 4 | Industrial Light & Magic | $69,161 | $33.25 |
| 5 | Christian Youth Theater | $67,672 | $32.53 |
| 6 | CoSA VFX | $64,801 | $31.15 |
| 7 | Kids' Orchestra | $62,032 | $29.82 |
| 8 | Umg Recordings Services Inc. | $62,032 | $29.82 |
| 9 | Dad's Garage Theatre | $59,707 | $28.71 |
| 10 | Warner Music Group | $58,243 | $28.00 |
| 11 | Los Angeles LGBT Center | $56,449 | $27.14 |
| 12 | The Salvation Army | $37,879 | $18.21 |
| 13 | Huntington Beach Union High School District | $35,826 | $17.22 |
| 14 | Jeffrey C Still Middle School | $30,378 | $14.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Artistic Director salary by industry
The average artistic director salary varies across industries:
- The average artistic director salary in the professional industry is $74,305, the highest of any industry.
- The average artistic director salary in the finance industry is $62,656.
- Artistic directors in the media industry earn an average salary of $53,858, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for artistic directors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $74,305 | $35.72 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $62,656 | $30.12 |
| 3 | Start-up | $59,294 | $28.51 |
| 4 | Education | $57,164 | $27.48 |
| 5 | Media | $53,858 | $25.89 |
High paying artistic director jobs
Artistic director salary trends
The average artistic director salary has risen by $11,975 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average artistic director earned $60,780 annually, but today, they earn $72,755 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for artistic directors over the last decade.
Compare artistic director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average artistic director salary over time
Compare artistic director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Artistic director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $72,800 | $34.98 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $70,500 | $33.88 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $69,400 | $33.36 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | $69,200 | $33.26 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $67,200 | $32.30 | +0.1% |
Recently added artistic director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director | Chicago, IL | 06/20/2025 | $170,000 |
| The University of Chicago | Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director | Chicago, IL | 05/27/2025 | $170,000 |
| Marymount Manhattan College | Producing Artistic Director and Chair Department of Dance | New York, NY | 05/13/2025 | $120,000 |
| Palatine Park District | PCC Artistic Director | Palatine, IL | 05/04/2025 | $41,740 |
| The University of Chicago | Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director | Chicago, IL | 04/29/2025 | $170,000 |
| The University of Chicago | Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director | Chicago, IL | 03/28/2025 | $170,000 |
| Extraterritorial Inc. | Artistic Director | New York, NY | 03/18/2025 | $156,525 |
| The University of Chicago | Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director | Chicago, IL | 02/27/2025 | $170,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Artistic Director and Department Chair, Peabody Children's Chorus | Baltimore, MD | 02/21/2025 | $70,000 |
| Chorusamerica | Artistic Director | Noma, FL | 02/18/2025 | $13,000 |
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