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Art Director

$111,040
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Lead the visual style of projects and campaigns, and direct designers, photographers, and artists.

Where you work

Ad agencies, media, and publishing offices.

The hours

Full-time, longer near deadlines

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$111,040
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~12,300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+4%
About average
Working in the U.S.
135,000
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree.

License or certification

No license required to start in most places.

What it takes

Visual directionTeam leadershipDesign softwareConcept development

The honest take

A senior creative role with strong pay, usually reached after years in design.

Standard Occupational Classification 27-1011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.