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How to hire an assistant art director

Assistant art director hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring assistant art directors in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an assistant art director is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per assistant art director on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 20,334 assistant art directors in the US and 9,597 job openings.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for assistant art directors, with 4 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of assistant art directors.

How to hire an assistant art director, step by step

To hire an assistant art director, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a assistant art director:

Here's a step-by-step assistant art director hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an assistant art director job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant art director
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an assistant art director, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect assistant art director also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list presents assistant art director salaries for various positions.

    Type of Assistant Art DirectorDescriptionHourly rate
    Assistant Art DirectorArt directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. They create the overall design of a project and direct others who develop artwork and layouts.$22-62
    Graphic Design ManagerA graphic design manager is primarily in charge of leading and overseeing the efforts of a graphic design team, ensuring adherence to goals and deadlines. It is their duty to learn and analyze the purpose of design, coordinate staff, liaise with internal and external parties, set goals and objectives, manage schedules, and conceptualize plans... Show more$23-43
    Creative Services DirectorA Creative Services Director is responsible for managing digital content and campaign publications for project management efforts. They oversee the daily account operations and ensure that the processes adhere to high-quality standards and client specifications... Show more$39-69
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Adobe Photoshop
    • Graphic Design
    • Photo Shoots
    • Art Direction
    • Concept Development
    • Adobe Illustrator
    • Mac
    • Adobe Creative Suite
    • Fine Arts
    • Editorial Layouts
    • Adobe Indesign
    • Design Concepts
    • Event Planning
    • Web Design
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage translation and localization for Facebook game into Spanish and Portuguese.
    • Direct and manage all photography including composition, talent acquisition and photo manipulation.
    • Conceptualize and successfully develop numerous creative visual concepts for online sites, print materials, and PowerPoint presentations.
    • Update, revise and create web pages using HTML.
    • Participate in brainstorm sessions and develop creative options for internal projects.
    More assistant art director duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your assistant art director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An assistant art director salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, assistant art directors' average salary in south carolina is 60% less than in oregon.
    • Seniority. Entry-level assistant art directors earn 65% less than senior-level assistant art directors.
    • Certifications. An assistant art director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an assistant art director's salary.

    Average assistant art director salary

    $77,835yearly

    $37.42 hourly rate

    Entry-level assistant art director salary
    $46,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 18, 2026

    Average assistant art director salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$118,046$57
    2New York$96,777$47
    3Massachusetts$90,860$44
    4Illinois$80,325$39
    5Connecticut$76,613$37
    6Colorado$63,158$30
    7Pennsylvania$60,708$29
    8Maryland$55,533$27
    9Indiana$52,824$25
    10Texas$50,835$24

    Average assistant art director salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1JCPenney$135,805$65.29
    2Ris$111,996$53.84
    3BBDO Detroit$107,335$51.60
    4Arnold Worldwide$106,869$51.38
    5Harlem Children's Zone$99,128$47.66
    6California Baptist University$98,367$47.29
    7Dow Jones$95,661$45.99
    8New York University$94,187$45.283
    9University of California-Berkeley$79,866$38.40
    10Temple University$70,772$34.02
    11Saint Joseph's University$70,592$33.94
    12Tiffany & Co.$69,956$33.632
    13Boston University$67,439$32.421
    14Johns Hopkins University$66,462$31.95
    15PSEA$63,689$30.626
    16Tufts University$63,686$30.62
    17DePaul University$59,638$28.671
    18Dordt University$58,187$27.97
    19University of Indianapolis$56,510$27.17
    20One River School$54,644$26.2753
  4. Writing an assistant art director job description

    A good assistant art director job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an assistant art director job description:

    Assistant art director job description example

    Founded in 2000, The Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) is a hybrid program that combines the best of immersive in-person residency sessions with the flexibility of asynchronous online studies. The degree's interdisciplinary curriculum provides the 360-degree perspective of international affairs that's essential to succeeding as a global leader. The first and only hybrid program of its kind, GMAP allows accomplished individuals to earn a Master of Arts in International Relations from anywhere, without interrupting their careers.
    What You'll Do

    The Assistant Director, Global Master of Arts Program provides program strategy, instructional strategy, course development, and course delivery for online and blended learning initiatives in the Global Master of Arts Program. The Assistant Director facilitates the student academic experience and is responsible for ensuring high-quality, timely, and effective online instructional design and delivery, as well as effective in-person residency experiences.

    This role is responsible for developing innovative online learning offerings (delivered via LMS) including scripted, animated video tutorials; microlearning lessons; student events, and other instructional programming that creates a positive student experience. This role coordinates faculty development to foster high-quality instruction, including quick start guides and other job aids/instructional materials. The position consults with faculty on course design, development, and media production, and installs research-based instructional standards and fosters innovation. This position will also support the Associate Director on areas outside of technology, as needed.

    What We're Looking For

    Basic Requirements:

    * Knowledge and experience as typically acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Adult Learning, or similar OR equivalent work experience required
    * Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in curriculum design and/or post-secondary or adult instruction
    * Must be able to understand complex information and communicate the information clearly to people with diverse professional backgrounds.
    * Advanced skills in using Canvas for course design and delivery; capacity to train faculty and students in effective Canvas usage
    * Interest in the latest LMS tools and maintaining cutting-edge capacity in learning technology
    * Fluent in content authoring tools, particularly video production, such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Suite (Premier Pro, Photoshop, Captivate), Camtasia, Voice Thread, Kaltura, and Snagit
    * Working knowledge of and proven use of adult learning theory in training design
    * Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills with ability to successfully deliver and communicate complex technical training
    * Experience working with highly motivated learners
    * Proven time management and organizational skills
    * Naturally motivated to take ownership, internal drive to seek change and improvement through creative problem solving
    * Proven experience in website management

    Preferred Qualifications:

    * Master's degree in Instructional Design or closely related field
    * Experience with learning and content management systems and platforms

    An employee in this position must complete all appropriate background checks at the time of hire, promotion, or transfer.

    Responsibilities

    The Assistant Director, Global Master of Arts Program provides program strategy, instructional strategy, course development, and course delivery for online and blended learning initiatives in the Global Master of Arts Program. The Assistant Director facilitates the student academic experience and is responsible for ensuring high-quality, timely, and effective online instructional design and delivery, as well as effective in-person residency experiences.

    This role is responsible for developing innovative online learning offerings (delivered via LMS) including scripted, animated video tutorials; microlearning lessons; student events, and other instructional programming that creates a positive student experience. This role coordinates faculty development to foster high-quality instruction, including quick start guides and other job aids/instructional materials. The position consults with faculty on course design, development, and media production, and installs research-based instructional standards and fosters innovation. This position will also support the Associate Director on areas outside of technology, as needed.

    Qualifications

    Basic Requirements:

    * Knowledge and experience as typically acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Adult Learning, or similar OR equivalent work experience required
    * Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in curriculum design and/or post-secondary or adult instruction
    * Must be able to understand complex information and communicate the information clearly to people with diverse professional backgrounds.
    * Advanced skills in using Canvas for course design and delivery; capacity to train faculty and students in effective Canvas usage
    * Interest in the latest LMS tools and maintaining cutting-edge capacity in learning technology
    * Fluent in content authoring tools, particularly video production, such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Suite (Premier Pro, Photoshop, Captivate), Camtasia, Voice Thread, Kaltura, and Snagit
    * Working knowledge of and proven use of adult learning theory in training design
    * Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills with ability to successfully deliver and communicate complex technical training
    * Experience working with highly motivated learners
    * Proven time management and organizational skills
    * Naturally motivated to take ownership, internal drive to seek change and improvement through creative problem solving
    * Proven experience in website management

    Preferred Qualifications:

    * Master's degree in Instructional Design or closely related field
    * Experience with learning and content management systems and platforms

    An employee in this position must complete all appropriate background checks at the time of hire, promotion, or transfer.
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find assistant art directors for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your assistant art director job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant art director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit assistant art directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant art director

    Once you've found the assistant art director candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an assistant art director?

Before you start to hire assistant art directors, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire assistant art directors pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for assistant art directors is $77,835 in the US. However, the cost of assistant art director hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an assistant art director for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $22 and $62 an hour.

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