Best cities for a creative/art director
The best cities for creative/art directors are San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for creative/art directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for creative/art directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a creative/art director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for creative/art directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for creative/art directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a creative/art director. While the absolute best city for creative/art directors is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for creative/art directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a creative/art director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for creative/art directors in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total creative/art director jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $162,184 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $270,000 Location quotient: 6.77 2. Los Angeles, CA
Total creative/art director jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $151,451 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 7.89 3. San Jose, CA
Total creative/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $162,111 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $269,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Wichita, KS
Total creative/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $136,378 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fremont, CA
Total creative/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $162,002 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $269,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Oakland, CA
Total creative/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $161,961 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $269,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total creative/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $160,511 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $267,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fresno, CA
Total creative/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $160,276 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $267,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. New York, NY
Total creative/art director jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $135,256 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 8.40 10. Sacramento, CA
Total creative/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $159,228 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $266,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for creative/art directors
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Wichita, KS
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Fresno, CA
- New York, NY
- Sacramento, CA
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- (16 creative/art director jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a creative/art director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $162,184 | $97,000 | 870,887 | 16 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $151,451 | $91,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $162,111 | $97,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 4 | Wichita, KS | $136,378 | $82,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $162,002 | $97,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $161,961 | $97,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $160,511 | $96,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $160,276 | $96,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 9 | New York, NY | $135,256 | $82,000 | 8,537,673 | 65 |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $159,228 | $95,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 11 | Bakersfield, CA | $157,554 | $94,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | $149,703 | $90,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | $149,694 | $90,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 14 | Riverside, CA | $149,622 | $89,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 15 | Santa Ana, CA | $149,117 | $89,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 16 | Irvine, CA | $148,653 | $89,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 17 | Brookhaven, NY | $136,003 | $83,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 18 | Islip, NY | $135,772 | $83,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $129,635 | $76,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $120,771 | $73,000 | 2,704,958 | 7 |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $144,169 | $86,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 22 | Oyster Bay, NY | $135,593 | $83,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 23 | Hempstead, NY | $135,457 | $83,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 24 | Chula Vista, CA | $143,572 | $86,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 25 | Boston, MA | $122,241 | $75,000 | 673,184 | 11 |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $110,343 | $67,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $125,517 | $74,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 28 | Buffalo, NY | $131,884 | $80,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $111,248 | $66,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $111,115 | $66,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Henderson, NV | $110,841 | $66,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 32 | Reno, NV | $110,526 | $65,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 33 | Saint Paul, MN | $113,140 | $69,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 34 | Minneapolis, MN | $113,010 | $69,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 35 | Durham, NC | $104,492 | $61,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 36 | Raleigh, NC | $104,178 | $61,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 37 | Anchorage, AK | $113,832 | $69,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 38 | Jersey City, NJ | $120,981 | $74,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 39 | Newark, NJ | $120,924 | $74,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 40 | Cleveland, OH | $97,533 | $59,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $103,546 | $60,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | $103,038 | $60,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 43 | Toledo, OH | $96,203 | $58,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 44 | Cincinnati, OH | $90,652 | $54,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 45 | New Orleans, LA | $101,552 | $56,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 46 | Charlotte, NC | $99,758 | $58,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 47 | Columbus, OH | $94,743 | $57,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $90,037 | $54,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 49 | Nashville, TN | $86,558 | $51,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 50 | Atlanta, GA | $94,603 | $54,000 | 472,522 | - |
Highest paying cities for creative/art directors
| Rank | City | Avg. creative/art director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino, CA | $162,307 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $135,256 |
| 3 | Overland Park, KS | $133,934 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $122,241 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $120,771 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $113,010 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $110,343 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $104,178 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $97,533 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $94,603 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $90,037 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $89,543 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $89,269 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,337 |
| 15 | Franklin, TN | $86,169 |
| 16 | Irving, TX | $85,368 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,394 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $81,458 |
| 19 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $80,395 |
Creative/art director best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025