Art Directors · Illinois

Art Directors Salary in Illinois

Art Directors in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $103,550 —9.8% below the national median of $114,850. That ranks IL #13 of 46 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$103,550
Median hourly
$49.79
Entry level (P10)
$69,200
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$172,050
90th percentile
Employment
2,960
0.5 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-9.8%
U.S. $114,850

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$69,200
$79,820
$103,550
$134,680
$69,200$103,550$172,050
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $103,550.

Employment is 1.42× as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for art directors

All 46 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Massachusetts$149,320$71.791,8501.49
2California$137,780$66.2412,4302.00
3New York$137,320$66.028,7202.64
4Oregon$133,840$64.341,0401.55
5New Hampshire$132,000$63.461600.70
6Vermont$129,260$62.14800.82
7New Jersey$129,200$62.121,8401.26
8Washington$121,170$58.256500.54
9Georgia$110,430$53.091,4200.85
10Minnesota$109,700$52.749200.92

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$76,380$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$49,120$47,320
Graphic Designers$62,560$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$40,270$39,390
Producers and Directors$81,080$90,360
Editors$76,060$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do art directors make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for art directors in Illinois is $103,550, or $49.79 per hour. That is 9.8% below the national median of $114,850.

What is the entry-level art directors salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $69,200 per year ($33.27/hour). The 25th percentile is $79,820.

How many people work as art directors in Illinois?

About 2,960 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.5 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for art directors?

Illinois ranks #13 of 46 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.42x as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays art directors the most?

Massachusetts has the highest median wage at $149,320 per year, followed by California ($137,780) and New York ($137,320).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes