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Creative specialist salary
Average creative specialist salary
$59,079
Average Creative Specialist Salary
The average salary for a Creative Specialist stands at $59,079 annually, or about $28 per hour. This figure reflects the current job market trends as of October 2025. Salaries can vary based on multiple factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one works.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level positions typically start around $45,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $75,000. As professionals gain expertise, they often find opportunities in higher-paying sectors or managerial roles, which can further increase their earnings.
Highest Paying States
States such as California, New York, and Texas offer some of the highest salaries for Creative Specialists, often exceeding the national average. It’s important for job seekers to consider these locations when evaluating potential career paths.
Job Opportunities
Creative Specialists are in demand across various industries, including marketing, advertising, and digital media. By understanding the salary landscape and potential career growth, individuals can make informed decisions about their professional journeys.
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Where can a Creative Specialist earn more?
Creative specialist salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level creative specialist | $36,900 | $17.75 |
| Mid-level creative specialist | $51,700 | $24.88 |
| Senior-level creative specialist | $80,700 | $38.79 |
Creative specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average creative specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for creative specialists are New York, Maryland, and Virginia. The lowest average creative specialist salary states are Florida, South Dakota, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for creative specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $83,335 | $40.06 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $88,054 | $42.33 |
| 3 | Washington | $74,963 | $36.04 |
| 4 | Virginia | $80,499 | $38.70 |
| 5 | Maryland | $83,187 | $39.99 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $75,775 | $36.43 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $70,140 | $33.72 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $69,523 | $33.42 |
| 9 | Illinois | $69,031 | $33.19 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $71,565 | $34.41 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $67,267 | $32.34 |
| 12 | Oregon | $60,209 | $28.95 |
| 13 | Michigan | $62,334 | $29.97 |
| 14 | Delaware | $62,128 | $29.87 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $62,835 | $30.21 |
| 16 | Vermont | $57,004 | $27.41 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $62,459 | $30.03 |
| 18 | Iowa | $55,187 | $26.53 |
| 19 | California | $61,231 | $29.44 |
| 20 | Texas | $57,965 | $27.87 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $68,559 | $32.96 |
| 22 | Ohio | $58,785 | $28.26 |
| 23 | Alaska | $57,473 | $27.63 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $52,713 | $25.34 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $51,550 | $24.78 |
| 26 | Nevada | $54,258 | $26.09 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $59,057 | $28.39 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $53,141 | $25.55 |
| 29 | Idaho | $55,884 | $26.87 |
| 30 | Arizona | $54,290 | $26.10 |
| 31 | Utah | $52,555 | $25.27 |
| 32 | Indiana | $56,845 | $27.33 |
| 33 | Montana | $53,664 | $25.80 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $50,125 | $24.10 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $47,946 | $23.05 |
| 36 | Georgia | $49,902 | $23.99 |
| 37 | Maine | $53,170 | $25.56 |
| 38 | Colorado | $51,737 | $24.87 |
| 39 | Missouri | $50,320 | $24.19 |
| 40 | Florida | $40,123 | $19.29 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $45,365 | $21.81 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $48,793 | $23.46 |
| 43 | Kansas | $43,905 | $21.11 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $42,972 | $20.66 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $48,115 | $23.13 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $45,739 | $21.99 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $39,954 | $19.21 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $40,053 | $19.26 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $38,427 | $18.47 |
| 50 | Alabama | $35,787 | $17.21 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $38,419 | $18.47 |
Highest paying cities for creative specialists
The highest-paying cities for creative specialists are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $88,155 | $42.38 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $83,526 | $40.16 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $83,197 | $40.00 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $75,821 | $36.45 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $75,165 | $36.14 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $69,617 | $33.47 |
| 7 | San Carlos, CA | $67,117 | $32.27 |
| 8 | Nashua, NH | $63,082 | $30.33 |
| 9 | Clinton, MI | $62,827 | $30.21 |
| 10 | Akron, OH | $60,619 | $29.14 |
| 11 | Spring, TX | $58,257 | $28.01 |
| 12 | Scottsdale, AZ | $54,305 | $26.11 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $52,569 | $25.27 |
| 14 | Cheyenne, WY | $49,771 | $23.93 |
| 15 | Carrollton, GA | $49,176 | $23.64 |
| 16 | Greenville, SC | $48,870 | $23.50 |
| 17 | Maryville, TN | $48,091 | $23.12 |
| 18 | Brandon, FL | $40,052 | $19.26 |
Creative specialist salary details
A creative specialist's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $102,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a creative specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| Average | $59,079 | $4,923 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying creative specialist jobs
The highest paying types of creative specialists are lead designer, senior designer, and designer/art director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web Designer | $63,842 | $5,320 | $30.69 | 50,899 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| Designer/Art Director | $97,448 | $8,121 | $46.85 | 53,314 |
| Design Internship | $45,791 | $3,816 | $22.01 | 97,018 |
| Art Director | $88,367 | $7,364 | $42.48 | 11,472 |
| Graphic Design Manager | $66,975 | $5,581 | $32.20 | 48,269 |
Top companies hiring creative specialists now:
Which companies pay creative specialists the most?
Creative specialist salaries at Apple and Google are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average creative specialist salary at companies like Twitter and Corning Incorporated are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $122,591 | $58.94 |
| 2 | $115,226 | $55.40 | |
| 3 | $92,699 | $44.57 | |
| 4 | Corning Incorporated | $89,328 | $42.95 |
| 5 | Snap | $78,216 | $37.60 |
| 6 | The Economist Newspaper Group | $77,270 | $37.15 |
| 7 | Smith & Wesson | $75,289 | $36.20 |
| 8 | Solugenix | $75,041 | $36.08 |
| 9 | American Outdoor Brands | $74,746 | $35.94 |
| 10 | Dignity Health | $73,672 | $35.42 |
| 11 | OPEX | $73,612 | $35.39 |
| 12 | Human Rights Foundation | $71,219 | $34.24 |
| 13 | Southwire | $70,544 | $33.92 |
| 14 | Ginkgo Bioworks | $69,376 | $33.35 |
| 15 | Laramie County Community College | $66,303 | $31.88 |
| 16 | SiriusXM | $63,903 | $30.72 |
| 17 | Planned Parenthood | $60,336 | $29.01 |
| 18 | ITA Group | $58,902 | $28.32 |
| 19 | Robert Half | $51,199 | $24.61 |
| 20 | One Workplace | $51,038 | $24.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Creative specialist salary trends
The average creative specialist salary has risen by $10,370 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average creative specialist earned $48,709 annually, but today, they earn $59,079 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for creative specialists over the last decade.
Compare creative specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average creative specialist salary over time
Compare creative specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Creative specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $59,100 | $28.40 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $57,700 | $27.73 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $55,700 | $26.80 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $53,900 | $25.91 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $52,700 | $25.35 | +1.6% |
Recently added creative specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Head of Creative, Events & Experiential | Culver City, CA | 06/25/2025 | $176,700 |
| Monks | UGC Specialist, Performance Creative | Denver, CO | 06/22/2025 | $85,000 |
| Within | AI Creative Specialist | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $123,038 |
| Within | AI Creative Specialist | New York, NY | 05/18/2025 | $123,038 |
| Rankings.Io | Digital Creative Specialist | Saint Louis, MO | 05/17/2025 | $70,000 |
| Seattle University | Career Engagement Creative and Performing Arts Specialist | Seattle, WA | 05/15/2025 | $52,000 |
| Within | AI Creative Specialist | New York, NY | 04/30/2025 | $123,038 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Specialist, Creative Content | Jamestown, NC | 04/25/2025 | $54,223 |
| Sustainable Surf | Videographer & Creative Specialist | Encinitas, CA | 04/23/2025 | $78,000 |
| Bittersweet Farms | Creative Arts Specialist-Autism Facility | Whitehouse, OH | 04/17/2025 | $36,523 |
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