Art Director Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Art Directors in Kentucky, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Kentucky Median
$76,160
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.62
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-34% vs US median
US median $114,850
State Rank
#36 of 46
320 employed here

How much does an Art Director make in Kentucky?

An Art Director working in Kentucky earns a median salary of $76,160 per year, or about $36.62 per hour. That is 34% below the national median of $114,850 for this occupation.

Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $42,990 while the top 10% make $121,940 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $59,530 and $98,320 a year.

Art Director salary range in Kentucky

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$42,990$20.67
25th percentile (early career)$59,530$28.62
50th percentile (median)$76,160$36.62
75th percentile (experienced)$98,320$47.27
90th percentile (top earners)$121,940$58.63

How Kentucky compares

Kentucky ranks 36th out of 46 states and territories for Art Director pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Massachusetts$149,320
2California$137,780
3New York$137,320
4Oregon$133,840
5New Hampshire$132,000

Working as an Art Director in Kentucky

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 Kentucky pay ($76,160) 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 Kentucky?
The median Art Director salary in Kentucky is $76,160 per year, or about $36.62 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $42,990 at the entry level to $121,940 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Art Directors about 34% less than the national median of $114,850. Kentucky ranks 36th out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Art Directors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $76,160 a year. About 320 Art Directors are employed in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.