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Senior designer/art director salary
Average senior designer/art director salary
$104,333
Average Senior Designer/Art Director Salary
The average salary for a Senior Designer/Art Director is approximately $104,333 per year, translating to around $50 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, those working in advertising or tech sectors may earn higher salaries compared to those in non-profit organizations.
Where Can You Earn More?
Exploring opportunities in cities like San Francisco and New York can lead to higher compensation. These metropolitan areas often offer the highest paying positions for Senior Designers and Art Directors due to their vibrant creative sectors.
Salary Insights by State
States such as California and New York consistently rank among the highest for salaries in this role. Understanding these dynamics can help you make informed decisions about your career path and salary negotiations.
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Where can a Senior Designer/Art Director earn more?
Average senior designer/art director salary by state
The average senior designer/art director salary in California, Iowa, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior designer/art director salary states are Texas, Florida, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior designer/art directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $116,581 | $56.05 |
| 2 | California | $121,035 | $58.19 |
| 3 | Utah | $112,620 | $54.14 |
| 4 | Washington | $110,288 | $53.02 |
| 5 | Kansas | $115,934 | $55.74 |
| 6 | Illinois | $105,317 | $50.63 |
| 7 | Iowa | $120,099 | $57.74 |
| 8 | Maine | $107,649 | $51.75 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $103,133 | $49.58 |
| 10 | Idaho | $112,273 | $53.98 |
| 11 | New York | $103,972 | $49.99 |
| 12 | Vermont | $101,459 | $48.78 |
| 13 | Michigan | $95,578 | $45.95 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $97,306 | $46.78 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $84,992 | $40.86 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $101,756 | $48.92 |
| 17 | Nevada | $98,393 | $47.30 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $97,422 | $46.84 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $100,839 | $48.48 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $82,531 | $39.68 |
| 21 | Montana | $93,889 | $45.14 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $88,038 | $42.33 |
| 23 | Alabama | $78,494 | $37.74 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $78,333 | $37.66 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $87,691 | $42.16 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $84,277 | $40.52 |
| 27 | Alaska | $95,972 | $46.14 |
| 28 | Virginia | $81,516 | $39.19 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $82,523 | $39.67 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $84,052 | $40.41 |
| 31 | Georgia | $77,598 | $37.31 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $86,393 | $41.54 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $70,049 | $33.68 |
| 34 | Ohio | $79,059 | $38.01 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $70,895 | $34.08 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $75,196 | $36.15 |
| 37 | Delaware | $80,504 | $38.70 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $69,999 | $33.65 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $88,860 | $42.72 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $72,426 | $34.82 |
| 41 | Colorado | $72,868 | $35.03 |
| 42 | Missouri | $74,839 | $35.98 |
| 43 | Texas | $69,388 | $33.36 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $71,758 | $34.50 |
| 45 | Maryland | $68,921 | $33.14 |
| 46 | Arizona | $69,836 | $33.58 |
| 47 | Florida | $69,346 | $33.34 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $70,995 | $34.13 |
| 49 | Indiana | $69,011 | $33.18 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $68,605 | $32.98 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $65,487 | $31.48 |
Highest paying cities for senior designer/art directors
The highest-paying cities for senior designer/art directors are Cupertino, CA, Northbrook, IL, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino, CA | $133,243 | $64.06 |
| 2 | Northbrook, IL | $106,115 | $51.02 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $104,164 | $50.08 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $87,894 | $42.26 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $82,462 | $39.65 |
| 6 | Birmingham, AL | $78,074 | $37.54 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $74,597 | $35.86 |
Senior designer/art director salary details
A senior designer/art director's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $153,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior designer/art director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $153,000 | $12,750 | $74 |
| 75th Percentile | $128,000 | $10,667 | $62 |
| Average | $104,333 | $8,694 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
Highest paying senior designer/art director jobs
The highest paying types of senior designer/art directors are associate creative director, creative director, and creative director/owner.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Design Manager | $66,975 | $5,581 | $32.20 | 48,269 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| Lead Graphic Designer | $76,009 | $6,334 | $36.54 | 46,260 |
| Graphic Designer | $49,450 | $4,121 | $23.77 | 45,625 |
| Visual Designer | $86,495 | $7,208 | $41.58 | 46,815 |
| Lead Designer | $110,001 | $9,167 | $52.89 | 45,423 |
Top companies hiring senior designer/art directors now:
Which companies pay senior designer/art directors the most?
Senior designer/art director salaries at Apple and Avon Product are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior designer/art director salary at companies like Moody's and Crate and Barrel are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $160,283 | $77.06 |
| 2 | Avon Product | $139,839 | $67.23 |
| 3 | Moody's | $123,828 | $59.53 |
| 4 | Crate and Barrel | $114,405 | $55.00 |
| 5 | Penguin Random House | $113,064 | $54.36 |
| 6 | The Travelers Companies | $107,157 | $51.52 |
| 7 | Fetch Rewards | $104,378 | $50.18 |
| 8 | Bertelsmann | $99,028 | $47.61 |
| 9 | bareMinerals | $98,274 | $47.25 |
| 10 | Home Run | $97,057 | $46.66 |
| 11 | The Independent Traveler | $96,565 | $46.43 |
| 12 | Little Diversified Architectural Consulting | $88,319 | $42.46 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Designer/Art Director salary by industry
The average senior designer/art director salary varies across industries:
- The average senior designer/art director salary in the media industry is $113,063, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior designer/art director salary in the finance industry is $108,299.
- Senior designer/art directors in the retail industry earn an average salary of $97,314, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior designer/art directors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $113,063 | $54.36 |
| 2 | Finance | $108,299 | $52.07 |
| 3 | Technology | $104,855 | $50.41 |
| 4 | Professional | $103,147 | $49.59 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $99,744 | $47.95 |
| 6 | Transportation | $97,390 | $46.82 |
| 7 | Retail | $97,314 | $46.79 |
High paying senior designer/art director jobs
Senior designer/art director salary trends
The average senior designer/art director salary has risen by $17,173 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior designer/art director earned $87,160 annually, but today, they earn $104,333 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for senior designer/art directors over the last decade.
Compare senior designer/art director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior designer/art director salary over time
Compare senior designer/art director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior designer/art director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $104,000 | $50.16 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $101,000 | $48.59 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $99,500 | $47.84 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | $99,200 | $47.70 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $96,300 | $46.32 | +0.1% |
Recently added senior designer/art director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | SR. Designer/Art Director, Device Brand Studio | New York, NY | 06/06/2025 | $127,100 |
| A&B Studio | Senior Designer/Art Director | Fine, NY | 06/01/2025 | $95,000 |
| Amazon.com, Inc. | SR. Designer/Art Director, Device Brand Studio | New York, NY | 05/29/2025 | $127,100 |
| Cole Haan | Senior Art Director, Brand Design | New York, NY | 05/23/2025 | $160,000 |
| Amazon.com, Inc. | SR. Designer/Art Director, Device Brand Studio | Santa Monica, CA | 03/20/2025 | $127,100 |
| MGA Entertainment, Inc. | SR. Art Director, Brand Design (Little Tikes) | Los Angeles, CA | 02/17/2025 | $100,000 |
| Jack Link's Inc. | Senior Art Director/Designer-Digital and Social Media | Tony, WI | 02/17/2025 | $108,800 |
| ABFE Member | Interim Senior Designer/Art Director, Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 02/16/2025 | $84,000 |
| Apple | SR. Art Director, Channel, Marcom Design | Sunnyvale, CA | 02/09/2025 | $143,900 |
| Icreatives | Senior Designer/Experiential Art Director Qxw6R73R | New Haven, CT | 01/25/2025 | $85,000 |
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