Art directors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$111,040
~$53/hr · ~$9,253/mo
US Jobs
135K
As fast as average
AI & Automation Risk
8/10
High Risk
AI & Automation Risk
High Risk 8/10
Art directors work in a fundamentally digital domain where AI is rapidly advancing in image generation, layout design, and video synthesis. While the role requires high-level human judgment, leadership, and client communication, the core work product can be heavily augmented or automated by AI, significantly increasing productivity and potentially reducing the number of directors needed to oversee creative projects.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown-Warren, OHBEST VALUE | $130,390 | Below avg (85.9) | $151,803 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $170,760 | Above avg (113.1) | $151,036 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $155,350 | Above avg (106.7) | $145,576 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $158,690 | Above avg (117.6) | $134,997 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $134,280 | Average (100.5) | $133,637 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $143,490 | Above avg (112.7) | $127,285 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $136,850 | Above avg (112.6) | $121,488 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $132,340 | Above avg (110.4) | $119,881 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $133,550 | Above avg (114.7) | $116,384 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $107,120 | Below avg (93.0) | $115,151 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $102,690 | Below avg (90.0) | $114,118 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $116,410 | Average (102.4) | $113,662 |
| Syracuse, NY | $104,850 | Below avg (95.7) | $109,542 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $110,340 | Average (101.0) | $109,269 |
| Columbus, OH | $102,960 | Below avg (94.6) | $108,803 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
10-Year Growth
+4% (As fast as average)
Hourly Rate
~$53/hr
Monthly Income
~$9,253/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)