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Studio director salary
Average studio director salary
$99,189
Understanding the Studio Director Salary
A Studio Director holds a crucial position in creative industries, overseeing production processes and team management. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role is $99,189 per year. Salaries vary significantly between different states, with higher averages found in urban areas where the demand for creative talent is greater.
For instance, states like California and New York often offer competitive salaries due to the concentration of media and entertainment companies. Experience also plays a vital role; directors with extensive backgrounds can command salaries well above the average, especially in specialized fields such as film, television, or digital media.
In addition to base salary, many Studio Directors receive benefits such as bonuses, profit sharing, and health insurance, which can enhance overall compensation. Understanding these dynamics is essential for job seekers aiming to negotiate effectively and plan their career paths strategically.
Key Takeaways
- Average salary: $99,189 per year
- Higher salaries in states like California and New York
- Experience significantly impacts earnings
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Where can a Studio Director earn more?
Studio director salary estimates from across the web
Average studio director salary by state
The highest-paying states for studio directors are Alaska, Illinois, and Oregon. The lowest average studio director salary states are Oklahoma, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for studio directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $125,894 | $60.53 |
| 2 | Oregon | $127,912 | $61.50 |
| 3 | Illinois | $129,871 | $62.44 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,123 | $59.67 |
| 5 | Alaska | $145,405 | $69.91 |
| 6 | California | $115,200 | $55.38 |
| 7 | Utah | $113,009 | $54.33 |
| 8 | Kansas | $121,566 | $58.45 |
| 9 | New York | $108,306 | $52.07 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $110,047 | $52.91 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $100,039 | $48.10 |
| 12 | Idaho | $118,373 | $56.91 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $105,031 | $50.50 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $112,345 | $54.01 |
| 15 | Vermont | $102,960 | $49.50 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $96,209 | $46.25 |
| 17 | Montana | $106,011 | $50.97 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $105,856 | $50.89 |
| 19 | Michigan | $106,709 | $51.30 |
| 20 | Alabama | $94,717 | $45.54 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $100,393 | $48.27 |
| 22 | Nevada | $102,402 | $49.23 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $107,000 | $51.44 |
| 24 | Maine | $106,541 | $51.22 |
| 25 | Georgia | $94,848 | $45.60 |
| 26 | Ohio | $92,054 | $44.26 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $97,813 | $47.03 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $94,479 | $45.42 |
| 29 | Virginia | $94,402 | $45.39 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $93,043 | $44.73 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $88,251 | $42.43 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $81,631 | $39.25 |
| 33 | Missouri | $88,639 | $42.61 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $81,145 | $39.01 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $88,908 | $42.74 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $86,658 | $41.66 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $87,075 | $41.86 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $91,247 | $43.87 |
| 39 | Florida | $87,597 | $42.11 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $87,440 | $42.04 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $84,401 | $40.58 |
| 42 | Colorado | $81,645 | $39.25 |
| 43 | Texas | $80,395 | $38.65 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $79,819 | $38.37 |
| 45 | Indiana | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| 46 | Delaware | $88,179 | $42.39 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $83,324 | $40.06 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $79,681 | $38.31 |
| 49 | Arizona | $79,241 | $38.10 |
| 50 | Maryland | $78,056 | $37.53 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $81,517 | $39.19 |
Highest paying cities for studio directors
The highest-paying cities for studio directors are Portland, OR, Vancouver, WA, and Nampa, ID.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $167,107 | $80.34 |
| 2 | Vancouver, WA | $164,486 | $79.08 |
| 3 | Nampa, ID | $151,439 | $72.81 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $151,064 | $72.63 |
| 5 | Chico, CA | $150,656 | $72.43 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $113,181 | $54.41 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,651 | $53.20 |
| 8 | Edison, NJ | $109,946 | $52.86 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $109,530 | $52.66 |
| 10 | Lafayette, LA | $103,210 | $49.62 |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | $99,081 | $47.64 |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $89,285 | $42.93 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $82,604 | $39.71 |
| 14 | Tempe, AZ | $81,046 | $38.96 |
| 15 | State College, PA | $80,158 | $38.54 |
Studio director salary details
A studio director's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $211,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a studio director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $211,000 | $17,583 | $101 |
| 75th Percentile | $147,000 | $12,250 | $71 |
| Average | $99,189 | $8,266 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
Highest paying studio director jobs
The highest paying types of studio directors are executive creative director, associate creative director, and creative director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Services Director | $108,980 | $9,082 | $52.39 | 60,237 |
| Freelance Art Director | $85,453 | $7,121 | $41.08 | 9,215 |
| Studio Manager | $70,813 | $5,901 | $34.04 | 305,398 |
| Designer/Art Director | $97,448 | $8,121 | $46.85 | 53,314 |
| Creative/Art Director | $125,743 | $10,479 | $60.45 | 10,403 |
| Creative Director | $137,779 | $11,482 | $66.24 | 11,610 |
Top companies hiring studio directors now:
Which companies pay studio directors the most?
Studio director salaries at Saks Fifth Avenue and Kramer are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average studio director salary at companies like Voodoo and Trianz are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saks Fifth Avenue | $191,074 | $91.86 |
| 2 | Kramer | $173,560 | $83.44 |
| 3 | Voodoo | $141,211 | $67.89 |
| 4 | Trianz | $133,161 | $64.02 |
| 5 | Altice USA | $119,212 | $57.31 |
| 6 | Amazon | $117,985 | $56.72 |
| 7 | Threefold Educational Center | $113,240 | $54.44 |
| 8 | Amazing Lash Studio | $109,891 | $52.83 |
| 9 | Paramount | $108,523 | $52.17 |
| 10 | Portland State University | $103,458 | $49.74 |
| 11 | The Lash Lounge | $100,857 | $48.49 |
| 12 | MiniLuxe | $100,521 | $48.33 |
| 13 | Central Missouri Community Action | $99,734 | $47.95 |
| 14 | AccuWeather | $85,798 | $41.25 |
| 15 | TCA Architects | $78,576 | $37.78 |
| 16 | Energy Inc. | $75,898 | $36.49 |
| 17 | Moody Nolan | $62,061 | $29.84 |
| 18 | Western State College of Law | $45,465 | $21.86 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Studio director salary trends
The average studio director salary has risen by $16,326 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average studio director earned $82,863 annually, but today, they earn $99,189 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for studio directors over the last decade.
Compare studio director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average studio director salary over time
Compare studio director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Studio director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $99,200 | $47.69 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $96,100 | $46.19 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $94,600 | $45.49 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | $94,300 | $45.35 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $91,600 | $44.03 | +0.1% |
Recently added studio director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gumgum | Studio Director | Santa Monica, CA | 06/29/2025 | $128,000 |
| Ware Malcomb | Studio Director, Architecture | Los Angeles, CA | 06/09/2025 | $150,000 |
| Altice USA Inc. | Studio Director-Freelance | Edison, NJ | 06/07/2025 | $37,500 |
| Music & Youth Initiative | Studio Clubhouse Director | Stuart, FL | 05/30/2025 | $55,000 |
| Adams State University | Director of The Writing Studio | Alamosa, CO | 05/28/2025 | $46,476 |
| Cornell University | Studio Director, Cornell Tech | New York, NY | 05/19/2025 | $96,440 |
| Democratic Party | Deputy Studio Director | Washington, DC | 05/06/2025 | $80,000 |
| Democratic Party | Deputy Studio Director | Washington, DC | 04/28/2025 | $80,000 |
| Ware Malcomb | Studio Director, Architecture | Los Angeles, CA | 04/28/2025 | $150,000 |
| Adams | Writing Studio Director | Alamosa, CO | 04/28/2025 | $46,476 |
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