Art Directors earn a median of $114,850 per year ($55.22/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.2% through 2035, with about 12,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-1011
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Art Director in four numbers
- Median pay
- $114,850a year, or $55.22/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $65KTop 10% $213K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.2%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 12,200140,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025140.2K
- Projected 2035146K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 140.2K Projected 2035 146K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school9.7%
- Some college5.7%
- Associate's5.4%
- Bachelor's68%
- Post-bacc certificate3.5%
- Master's7.7%
Highest education held by art directors Segment Value High school 9.7% Some college 5.7% Associate's 5.4% Bachelor's 68% Post-bacc certificate 3.5% Master's 7.7%
Also advertised as: Art Director, Art Supervisor, Creative Director (CD Director), Creative Manager, Creative Services Director, Creative Services Manager.
Pay
How much do Art Directors make?
Every art director in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$114,850
Middle half earn $82,480 to $162,640
- 10th
- $64,900
- 25th
- $82,480
- 75th
- $162,640
- 90th
- $213,050
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $64,900 |
| 25th | $82,480 |
| Median | $114,850 |
| 75th | $162,640 |
| 90th | $213,050 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $114,850
- Median hourly wage
- $55.22/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $129,440
- People employed
- 53,070
Versus all US occupations
At $114,850, Art Directors earn 125% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $63,870 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 69% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $213,050 or more while the bottom 10% earn $64,900, a gap of 3.3×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $149,320, and still leads at $141,192 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Art Directors the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $149,320 | $141,192 | 1,850 |
| 2California | $137,780 | $124,440 | 12,430 |
| 3New York | $137,320 | $127,241 | 8,720 |
| 4Oregon | $133,840 | $129,488 | 1,040 |
| 5New Hampshire | $132,000 | $126,722 | 160 |
| 6Vermont | $129,260 | $131,955 | 80 |
| 7New Jersey | $129,200 | $118,745 | 1,840 |
| 8Washington | $121,170 | $113,229 | 650 |
| 9Georgia | $110,430 | $114,681 | 1,420 |
| 10Minnesota | $109,700 | $111,234 | 920 |
Job outlook
Is Art Director a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +4.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Directors | +4.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Art Directors to change 4.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 5,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,200 openings are projected each year, 8.7% of the 140,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
As traditional print publications lose ground to other media forms, art directors are shifting their focus to online advertising, video, and internet design. This shift in focus is expected to sustain demand for art directors.
Getting in
How to become an Art Director
Art directors need at least a bachelor’s degree in an art or design subject and previous work experience. Depending on the industry, they may have worked as graphic designers, fine artists, editors, or photographers, or in another art or design occupation before becoming art directors.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as art directors.
- Bachelor's Degree68%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)9.7%
- Master's Degree7.7%
- Some College Courses5.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 68% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 9.7% |
| Master's Degree | 7.7% |
| Some College Courses | 5.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 5.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Art Director do?
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. They create the overall design and direct others who develop artwork or layouts.
Day-to-day tasks
- Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
- Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
- Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
- Present final layouts to clients for approval.
- Research current trends and new technology, such as printing production techniques, computer software, and design trends.
- Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
- Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where art directors work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Self-employed workers62%
- Advertising, public relations, and related services11%
- Publishing, broadcasting, and content providers4%
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services3%
- Motion picture and video industries2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 62% |
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | 11% |
| Publishing, broadcasting, and content providers | 4% |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 3% |
| Motion picture and video industries | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.3
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Coordination3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Time Management3.6
- Persuasion3.4
- Operations Analysis3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Instructing3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.4 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphical user interface development software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Network conferencing software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Art Director?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Art Director |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 7 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Artistic7.0
- Enterprising5.2
- Conventional3.6
- Realistic3.0
- Social2.9
- Investigative2.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Art Director
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Business and Financial Operations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with art directors highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Interpreter and Translator$60,170
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Interpreter and Translator | $60,170 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within art director
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Questions
Art Director: frequently asked questions
How much do Art Directors make?
Art Directors earn a median of $114,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 125% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $55.22/hr. The middle half earn between $82,480 and $162,640. The top 10% earn $213,050 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Art Director?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Art Directors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 68.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Art Director a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.2% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 12,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Art Director do?
Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. A core O*NET task: create custom illustrations or other graphic elements. Employers most often ask for Desktop publishing software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Art Directors the most?
The highest state medians for Art Directors are Massachusetts ($149,320), California ($137,780), New York ($137,320) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Art Director?
O*NET scores Art Directors highest on the Artistic, Enterprising and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFP, ENTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.