Post job

How to hire a senior creative director

Senior creative director hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring senior creative directors in the United States:

  • There are a total of 15,316 senior creative directors in the US, and there are currently 9,886 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a senior creative director is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per senior creative director on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Culver City, CA, has the highest demand for senior creative directors, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a senior creative director, step by step

To hire a senior creative director, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a senior creative director, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step senior creative director hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a senior creative director job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior creative director
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior creative director do?

A senior creative director spearheads the visual aspects of a company's marketing and advertising departments. They manage creative teams and lead the efforts from conceptualizing to executing projects and campaigns. As a senior creative director, their responsibilities typically include setting goals and budgets, establishing guidelines, coordinating departments, delegating tasks to managers, researching new business opportunities, liaising with internal and external parties, and developing strategies to optimize procedures. Furthermore, they must serve as a mentor to junior directors and staff, promoting and enforcing the company's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a senior creative director does
jobs
Post a senior creative director job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a senior creative director, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A senior creative director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior creative directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of senior creative director salaries for various roles:

    Type of Senior Creative DirectorDescriptionHourly rate
    Senior Creative DirectorArt directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. They create the overall design of a project and direct others who develop artwork and layouts.$35-130
    Graphic Design ManagerA graphic design manager is primarily in charge of leading and overseeing the efforts of a graphic design team, ensuring adherence to goals and deadlines. It is their duty to learn and analyze the purpose of design, coordinate staff, liaise with internal and external parties, set goals and objectives, manage schedules, and conceptualize plans... Show more$23-43
    Freelance Art DirectorAs a freelance art director, you will work hand-in-hand with the production designer to procure works of art for your organization. Note that your duties will depend on your particular industry... Show more$24-68
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Creative Direction
    • Brand Development
    • Graphic Design
    • Digital Marketing
    • Photography
    • Creative Strategy
    • Video Production
    • Adobe Creative Suite
    • Art Direction
    • Creative Solutions
    • Creative Vision
    • Marketing Campaigns
    • Creative Leadership
    • Concept Development
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Develop and manage business-to-business PowerPoint presentation service that create new business opportunities and increase revenue for the company.
    • Generate graphic assets for use in advertising, apparel, and collateral.
    • Direct and design apparel, skateboard, sticker, and small accessory design.
    • Co-Manage digital design firm specializing in e-commerce and in-home product interface design.
    • Provide creative copy direction and copywriting for pharmaceutical clients' internal corporate communications programs, training programs and sales force meetings.
    • Budget responsibility for B2B, B2C and corporate creative.
    More senior creative director duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the senior creative director job description is a good way to get more applicants. A senior creative director salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a senior creative director in Arkansas may be lower than in Illinois, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level senior creative director. Additionally, a senior creative director with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average senior creative director salary

    $141,259yearly

    $67.91 hourly rate

    Entry-level senior creative director salary
    $73,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average senior creative director salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Illinois$172,921$83
    2California$166,968$80
    3New York$146,869$71
    4Oregon$133,207$64
    5Washington$130,337$63
    6Minnesota$125,237$60
    7District of Columbia$124,823$60
    8Connecticut$120,978$58
    9Florida$114,127$55
    10Maryland$100,885$49
    11Texas$100,020$48
    12Colorado$83,620$40

    Average senior creative director salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Sally Beauty Holdings$248,207$119.33
    2Roku$232,858$111.951
    3Apple$218,134$104.876
    4Ancestry US Holdings Inc$197,287$94.85
    5The Independent Traveler$197,287$94.85
    6Fossil$194,808$93.66
    7Nike$191,919$92.279
    8Thrive Market$190,919$91.79
    9Amazon$185,619$89.2439
    10Under Armour$183,125$88.04
    11VICE$176,778$84.99
    12Scopely$171,607$82.50
    13Microsoft$170,648$82.0416
    14Electronic Arts$169,782$81.63
    152k$163,530$78.62
    16B-Reel$149,290$71.77
    17Universal Music Group$148,947$71.612
    18The Travelers Companies$129,614$62.31
    19Raley's$129,291$62.16
    20Oracle$126,733$60.93
  4. Writing a senior creative director job description

    A senior creative director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a senior creative director job description:

    Senior creative director job description example

    Culver City,California,United States

    Design

    + You will have an innovative vision for our content and media experiences and ideas about how to drive culture through them

    + Experience in conceptualizing and creating amazing experiences for viewers

    + Have an advanced understanding of what makes content engaging and successful across platforms and audiences

    + Have experience developing work for a variety of platforms and use cases, and is used to thinking how those impact myriad devices, experiences and scenarios

    + You're a conceptual problem solver who is strategically centered

    + Deliver highly-resolved work at the intersection of culture and design

    + Clear and concise communication skills

    + Ability to manage, drive and design visual design work for multiple situations

    + Fluency with any of the following: graphic design, video, animation, UX, storytelling

    + A keen ability to create work under minimal supervision, as well as package and present solutions to wider creative teams

    + Demonstrate strong user experience sensibilities with an uncanny level of curiosity

    + Collaborate well in a cross-functional design team environment

    + Have a passion for collaborating with other creatives, and can use that rapport to align others around their vision

    **Description**

    You will be an expansive strategist, designer, media geek, technologist, but most of all you're a storyteller. You will come to Apple to think about how Apple creates breathtaking and engaging content experiences within our products-from establishing the look and feel of our original content on our platforms to creating new content experiences to engage our viewers to infusing our platform with the culture of tv/entertainment. This role is unique in that you will drive both the present and the future of TV in our platforms. At Apple, we collaborate cross-functionally across many organizations and in the content space this is truer than ever. The senior creative needs to be exceptionally collaborative, believing that phenomenal work happens when you work with other exceptional people to get things done, but is also used to navigating these relationships and driving the work with vision when needed. You should first and foremost have a background in TV or digital content creation as well as an interdisciplinary sensibility toward designing for product or digital experiences. They will be a culture driver with an exceptional eye for detail, a keen sense of what matters and a belief that they can make a big difference. This is a role is for a true creative. A communicator and problem solver who wants to have their hands in many things at once; who can work across media types, screens, formats and technologies, and dedicated to shaping deep story lines of our users.

    **Education & Experience**

    Degree in BSc/BA Graphic Design or Visual Communication or equivalent work experience.

    **Additional Requirements**

    + - Portfolio showing strength in delivering strategic ideas across digital, social or static form factors.

    + - 9+ years relevant design or creative experience required; bonus for tours in publishing, magazines, or content creation/delivery.

    + - 3+ years of experience managing exceptional team members.

    + - Has passion about the Apple brand and relentless in preserving its authenticity

    **Apple Footer**

    Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant (Opens in a new window) .

    Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. United States Department of Labor. Learn more (Opens in a new window) .

    Apple is required to comply with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate issued by the New York City Department of Health. We will verify the vaccination status of all New York City team members who are working at an Apple Store, office, or partner store in New York City. New York City Department of Health Learn more (Opens in a new window) .

    Apple will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you're applying for a position in San Francisco, review the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance guidelines (opens in a new window) applicable in your area.

    Apple participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program (Opens in a new window) .

    Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace. Reasonable Accommodation and Drug Free Workplace policy Learn more (Opens in a new window) .
  5. Post your job

    To find senior creative directors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any senior creative directors they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level senior creative directors with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your senior creative director job on Zippia to find and recruit senior creative director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit senior creative directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior creative director

    Once you have selected a candidate for the senior creative director position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new senior creative director first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a senior creative director?

Recruiting senior creative directors involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $141,259 per year for a senior creative director, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for senior creative directors in the US typically range between $35 and $130 an hour.

Find better senior creative directors in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring senior creative directors FAQs

Search for senior creative director jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs