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Job outlook for artistic directors in the United States
Are artistic director jobs in demand?
Artistic director job and salary trends over time
Artistic director jobs over time
Artistic director job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,398 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,361 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,425 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,336 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,266 | 0.00% |
Average artistic director salary over time
Artistic director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $72,755 | $34.98 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $70,474 | $33.88 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $69,397 | $33.36 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | $69,187 | $33.26 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $67,183 | $32.30 | +0.1% |
Artistic director jobs by state
Most common states for artistic directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 187 | 22% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 503 | 16% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 473 | 16% |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 436 | 11% |
| 5 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 484 | 10% |
| 6 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 481 | 10% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 294 | 10% |
| 8 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 57 | 8% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 512 | 3% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 182 | 3% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 713 | 2% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 216 | 2% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 159 | 2% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 146 | 2% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 130 | 2% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 82 | 2% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 15 | 2% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 105 | 1% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 51 | 1% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 4 | 1% |
Most common cities for artistic directors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $99,081 |
Artistic Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of artistic director experts
What general advice would you give to an Artistic Director?
Frances Zhu: Get competing offers and negotiate a higher salary. Foster skills that lend to higher salaries. For example, even though marine biology may not pay the highest, if you have some coding experience, you will be one of the higher paid marine biologists in the field.
What will help Artistic Directors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Joyce Stoner: Salaries are not very high in art conservation as you start out. But if you work with a mentor, publish and give talks, have a high profile for your knowledge and expertise, and eventually go into private work, especially in modern and contemporary paintings, to my knowledge that is where the higher salaries are found.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Artistic Directors?
Rae Robison: This year has really hit home that performers need to have a better knowledge of lighting and costume. What does my light look like? Why is my white shirt flaring? Since so many are working from their homes they need answers to these questions so they can produce their best audition tape or performance. Everyone needs to embrace some tech knowledge so that we can continue to push our new art forms into the 21st century.