Art Directors pay in California
In California, the median pay for art directors is $66.24 an hour ($137,780 a year). About 12,430 people work in this job there.
That is 20% higher than the U.S. median ($114,850). California ranks 2nd of 46 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for art directors in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $39.18 | $81,500 |
| 25% of workers | $51.19 | $106,470 |
| Half of workers (median) | $66.24 | $137,780 |
| 75% of workers | $92.49 | $192,380 |
| 90% of workers | $119.81 | $249,210 |
Art Directors pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $170,140 | 600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $165,210 | 2,390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $137,560 | 6,590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $126,410 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $126,050 | 630 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $123,420 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $121,920 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $110,180 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $109,500 | 50 |
| Fresno | $109,420 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $106,390 | 310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $104,360 | 320 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for art directors
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 4 to 6 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +4.2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 12,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Project Management Specialists | $120,910 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 |
| Producers and Directors | $129,790 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $85,030 |
| Graphic Designers | $75,130 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 |
| Writers and Authors | $86,480 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $130,540 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.