California Median
$137,780
per year
Hourly Rate
$66.24
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+20% vs US median
US median $114,850
State Rank
#2 of 46
12,430 employed here
How much does an Art Director make in California?
Art Directors in California take home a median of $137,780 annually — roughly $66.24 an hour — which runs 20% above the national median of $114,850.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $81,500 while the top 10% make $249,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $106,470 and $192,380 a year.
Art Director salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,500 | $39.18 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $106,470 | $51.19 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $137,780 | $66.24 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $192,380 | $92.49 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $249,210 | $119.81 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 46 states and territories for Art Director pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Art Director salary in other states
Massachusetts $149,320New York $137,320Oregon $133,840New Hampshire $132,000Vermont $129,260New Jersey $129,200Washington $121,170Georgia $110,430Minnesota $109,700Utah $106,500Indiana $105,690Illinois $103,550Virginia $101,150Missouri $100,940Maine $100,300Colorado $99,990Florida $99,660Maryland $98,400Nevada $98,070Pennsylvania $97,450Ohio $94,390North Carolina $90,000Tennessee $89,860Hawaii $89,300Texas $88,270South Carolina $87,990Michigan $86,660Louisiana $83,640North Dakota $83,170Wisconsin $81,130Iowa $80,940Idaho $80,680Oklahoma $80,680Alabama $77,220Kentucky $76,160Alaska $75,200Montana $73,850Nebraska $73,270Rhode Island $72,550Arkansas $71,930Connecticut $71,900South Dakota $66,610Mississippi $66,020West Virginia $63,550Kansas $60,460
Working as an Art Director in California
Nationally, about 53,000 people work as Art Directors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($137,780) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Art Director make in California?
The median Art Director salary in California is $137,780 per year, or about $66.24 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $81,500 at the entry level to $249,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Art Directors about 20% more than the national median of $114,850. California ranks 2nd out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Art Directors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $137,780 a year. About 12,430 Art Directors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Art Director salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.