Tennessee Median
$89,860
per year
Hourly Rate
$43.20
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-22% vs US median
US median $114,850
State Rank
#24 of 46
930 employed here
How much does an Art Director make in Tennessee?
Art Directors in Tennessee take home a median of $89,860 annually — roughly $43.20 an hour — which runs 22% below the national median of $114,850.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $50,530 while the top 10% make $172,130 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $71,590 and $125,590 a year.
Art Director salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,530 | $24.29 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $71,590 | $34.42 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $89,860 | $43.20 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $125,590 | $60.38 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,130 | $82.75 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 24th 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 $105,690Illinois $103,550Virginia $101,150Missouri $100,940Maine $100,300Colorado $99,990Florida $99,660Maryland $98,400Nevada $98,070Pennsylvania $97,450Ohio $94,390North Carolina $90,000Hawaii $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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee pay ($89,860) 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 Tennessee?
The median Art Director salary in Tennessee is $89,860 per year, or about $43.20 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $50,530 at the entry level to $172,130 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Art Directors about 22% less than the national median of $114,850. Tennessee ranks 24th out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Art Directors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $89,860 a year. About 930 Art Directors are employed in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), 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.