Illinois Median
$103,550
per year
Hourly Rate
$49.78
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $114,850
State Rank
#13 of 46
2,960 employed here
How much does an Art Director make in Illinois?
Art Directors in Illinois take home a median of $103,550 annually — roughly $49.78 an hour — which runs 10% below the national median of $114,850.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $69,200 while the top 10% make $172,050 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $79,820 and $134,680 a year.
Art Director salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,200 | $33.27 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $79,820 | $38.38 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $103,550 | $49.78 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $134,680 | $64.75 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,050 | $82.72 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 13th out of 46 states and territories for Art Director pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Art Director salary in other states
Massachusetts $149,320California $137,780New York $137,320Oregon $133,840New Hampshire $132,000Vermont $129,260New Jersey $129,200Washington $121,170Georgia $110,430Minnesota $109,700Utah $106,500Indiana $105,690Virginia $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 Illinois
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 Illinois pay ($103,550) 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 Illinois?
The median Art Director salary in Illinois is $103,550 per year, or about $49.78 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $69,200 at the entry level to $172,050 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Art Directors about 10% less than the national median of $114,850. Illinois ranks 13th out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Art Directors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $103,550 a year. About 2,960 Art Directors are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), 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.