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Group creative director salary
Average group creative director salary
$237,604
Average Group Creative Director Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Group Creative Director stands at $237,604 per year. This figure can differ significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and industry. For instance, some states offer higher salaries due to demand and cost of living adjustments.
Salary by State
Group Creative Directors in states like California and New York tend to earn the highest salaries, reflecting the competitive nature of the creative industry in urban areas. Understanding these geographic differences can help professionals target their job searches effectively.
Industry Insights
The industry you work in also impacts your salary. Creative directors in advertising and tech sectors often command higher pay compared to those in non-profit organizations. To maximize your earning potential, consider pursuing opportunities in high-paying industries and continuously developing your skills.
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Where can a Group Creative Director earn more?
Group creative director salary estimates from across the web
Average group creative director salary by state
The average group creative director salary in Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average group creative director salary states are Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for group creative directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $211,805 | $101.83 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $201,463 | $96.86 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $198,700 | $95.53 |
| 4 | Kansas | $204,912 | $98.52 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $185,330 | $89.10 |
| 6 | Washington | $196,828 | $94.63 |
| 7 | Iowa | $208,927 | $100.45 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $188,310 | $90.53 |
| 9 | Oregon | $195,012 | $93.76 |
| 10 | New York | $195,366 | $93.93 |
| 11 | Utah | $188,987 | $90.86 |
| 12 | Alabama | $183,581 | $88.26 |
| 13 | Alaska | $203,067 | $97.63 |
| 14 | Michigan | $192,033 | $92.32 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $190,879 | $91.77 |
| 16 | Idaho | $193,878 | $93.21 |
| 17 | Montana | $189,252 | $90.99 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $179,521 | $86.31 |
| 19 | California | $192,301 | $92.45 |
| 20 | Vermont | $190,980 | $91.82 |
| 21 | Maine | $195,373 | $93.93 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $175,380 | $84.32 |
| 23 | Georgia | $184,121 | $88.52 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $187,946 | $90.36 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $185,327 | $89.10 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $188,204 | $90.48 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $174,170 | $83.74 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $160,806 | $77.31 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $176,347 | $84.78 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $172,324 | $82.85 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $174,664 | $83.97 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $163,137 | $78.43 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $168,231 | $80.88 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $173,056 | $83.20 |
| 35 | Ohio | $173,576 | $83.45 |
| 36 | Missouri | $172,767 | $83.06 |
| 37 | Indiana | $163,734 | $78.72 |
| 38 | Virginia | $173,146 | $83.24 |
| 39 | Florida | $163,882 | $78.79 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $166,124 | $79.87 |
| 41 | Nevada | $167,248 | $80.41 |
| 42 | Delaware | $165,503 | $79.57 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $166,290 | $79.95 |
| 44 | Colorado | $155,880 | $74.94 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $160,316 | $77.08 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $155,340 | $74.68 |
| 47 | Texas | $154,585 | $74.32 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $157,920 | $75.92 |
| 49 | Maryland | $151,149 | $72.67 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $148,724 | $71.50 |
| 51 | Arizona | $141,726 | $68.14 |
Highest paying cities for group creative directors
The highest-paying cities for group creative directors are Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $349,367 | $167.96 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $256,208 | $123.18 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $249,590 | $120.00 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $235,710 | $113.32 |
| 5 | Rogers, AR | $196,970 | $94.70 |
Group creative director salary details
A group creative director's salary ranges from $130,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $433,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a group creative director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $433,000 | $36,083 | $208 |
| 75th Percentile | $325,000 | $27,083 | $156 |
| Average | $237,604 | $19,800 | $114 |
| 25th Percentile | $173,000 | $14,417 | $83 |
| 10th Percentile | $130,000 | $10,833 | $63 |
Highest paying group creative director jobs
The highest paying types of group creative directors are executive creative director, senior creative director, and associate creative director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer/Art Director | $97,448 | $8,121 | $46.85 | 53,314 |
| Freelance Art Director | $85,453 | $7,121 | $41.08 | 9,215 |
| Art Director | $88,367 | $7,364 | $42.48 | 11,472 |
| Creative Services Director | $108,980 | $9,082 | $52.39 | 60,237 |
| Creative/Art Director | $125,743 | $10,479 | $60.45 | 10,403 |
| Creative Director | $137,779 | $11,482 | $66.24 | 11,610 |
Top companies hiring group creative directors now:
Which companies pay group creative directors the most?
Group creative director salaries at Golin and Huge are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average group creative director salary at companies like Pandora and Organic are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golin | $322,278 | $154.94 |
| 2 | Huge | $292,030 | $140.40 |
| 3 | Pandora | $290,410 | $139.62 |
| 4 | Organic | $286,483 | $137.73 |
| 5 | Razorfish | $286,134 | $137.56 |
| 6 | TLP | $283,428 | $136.26 |
| 7 | Gotham | $281,379 | $135.28 |
| 8 | AKQA | $274,963 | $132.19 |
| 9 | Translation | $272,556 | $131.04 |
| 10 | Gainor Staffing | $269,700 | $129.66 |
| 11 | Droga5 | $266,753 | $128.25 |
| 12 | Apple | $261,778 | $125.85 |
| 13 | R/GA | $261,745 | $125.84 |
| 14 | mcgarrybowen | $259,704 | $124.86 |
| 15 | Advantage Solutions | $258,269 | $124.17 |
| 16 | MullenLowe U.S. | $257,535 | $123.81 |
| 17 | *n/a* | $256,000 | $123.08 |
| 18 | Lands' End | $255,119 | $122.65 |
| 19 | Paramount | $253,803 | $122.02 |
| 20 | DDB | $250,391 | $120.38 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Group Creative Director salary by industry
The average group creative director salary varies across industries:
- The average group creative director salary in the media industry is $201,427, the highest of any industry.
- The average group creative director salary in the finance industry is $201,337.
- Group creative directors in the technology industry earn an average salary of $195,641, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for group creative directors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $201,427 | $96.84 |
| 2 | Professional | $201,337 | $96.80 |
| 3 | Construction | $199,961 | $96.14 |
| 4 | Technology | $195,641 | $94.06 |
High paying group creative director jobs
Group creative director salary trends
The average group creative director salary has risen by $39,108 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average group creative director earned $198,496 annually, but today, they earn $237,604 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for group creative directors over the last decade.
Compare group creative director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average group creative director salary over time
Compare group creative director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Group creative director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $238,000 | $114.23 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $230,000 | $110.65 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $227,000 | $108.96 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | $226,000 | $108.63 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $219,000 | $105.48 | +0.1% |
Recently added group creative director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | [Webtoon] Group Creative Director | Los Angeles, CA | 06/26/2025 | $160,000 |
| Monks | VP, Group Creative Director | Los Angeles, CA | 06/14/2025 | $200,000 |
| Monks | VP, Group Creative Director | Seattle, WA | 06/14/2025 | $200,000 |
| Walmart | Group Director, Creative-Head of Creative, Sam's Club | Bentonville, AR | 06/13/2025 | $160,000 |
| Courtavenue | Group Creative Director, UI | Cincinnati, OH | 06/13/2025 | $165,000 |
| Courtavenue | Group Creative Director, UI | Dallas, TX | 06/12/2025 | $165,000 |
| Critical Mass Technologies, Ltd. Co | Group Creative Director, Copy | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $220,000 |
| NVE Experience Agency | Group Creative Director | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $175,000 |
| Masterclass | Group Creative Director | San Francisco, CA | 06/09/2025 | $240,000 |
| Verizon | Group Creative Senior Director | New York, NY | 06/06/2025 | $190,500 |
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