Art Directors · New York

Art Directors Salary in New York

Art Directors in New York earn a median annual wage of $137,320 —19.6% above the national median of $114,850. That ranks NY #3 of 46 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$137,320
Median hourly
$66.02
Entry level (P10)
$80,060
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$280,320
90th percentile
Employment
8,720
0.9 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+19.6%
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
$80,060
$105,750
$137,320
$198,330
$80,060$137,320$280,320
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $137,320.

Employment is 2.64× as concentrated as the national average, making New York a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for art directors

All 46 states ranked by median annual wage. New York 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 New York

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New York.

OccupationNew York medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$81,250$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$59,920$47,320
Graphic Designers$77,340$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$43,660$39,390
Producers and Directors$107,550$90,360
Editors$101,480$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do art directors make in New York?

The median annual wage for art directors in New York is $137,320, or $66.02 per hour. That is 19.6% above the national median of $114,850.

What is the entry-level art directors salary in New York?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $80,060 per year ($38.49/hour). The 25th percentile is $105,750.

How many people work as art directors in New York?

About 8,720 people work in this occupation in New York, or 0.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New York a good state for art directors?

New York ranks #3 of 46 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 2.64x as concentrated as the national average, making New York 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