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Creative director (art director): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$114,850median pay per year, or $55.22 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $64,900lowest 10% earn less
  2. $82,48025th percentile
  3. $114,850median
  4. $162,64075th percentile
  5. $213,050top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for art directors, the BLS category that covers a creative director, was $114,850 a year[1]. The usual path is a bachelor's degree plus 5 years or more of related work[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.2%[5]
Openings per year
12,200[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[2]

How much do creative directors make?

BLS counts this job as Art Directors. O*NET lists Creative Director among the titles workers use[7]. In May 2025, the median pay was $114,850 a year, or $55.22 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $129,440 a year, or $62.23 an hour[8].

For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980 a year[4].

Pay varies a lot in this job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,900 a year[3]. The lowest-paid 25% earned less than $82,480[3]. The 75th percentile was $162,640 and the 90th percentile was $213,050[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][10] $64,900 $31.20
25th percentile[3][10] $82,480 $39.65
Median[1] $114,850 $55.22
75th percentile[3][10] $162,640 $78.19
90th percentile[3][10] $213,050 $102.43

These wages cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. That matters here, because 62.1% of art directors were self-employed in 2025[12]. About 53,070 people held wage and salary jobs in this category[13].

Pay by state and city

Among the 46 states with published data, Massachusetts had the highest median at $149,320[14]. California came next at $137,780, then New York at $137,320[14]. Kansas was last on the list at $60,460[14].

California had the most jobs, with 12,430[15]. New York had 8,720 and Illinois had 2,960[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $170,140[16]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $165,210, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $151,820[16]. The New York metro area had the most jobs, 8,980, with a median of $142,990[17]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had 6,590 jobs and a median of $137,560[17].

Show median pay in 46 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[14]$149,3201,850
California$137,78012,430
New York$137,3208,720
Oregon$133,8401,040
New Hampshire$132,000160
Vermont$129,26080
New Jersey$129,2001,840
Washington$121,170650
Georgia$110,4301,420
Minnesota$109,700920
Utah$106,500290
Indiana$105,690350
Illinois$103,5502,960
Virginia$101,150670
Missouri$100,940780
Maine$100,300n/a
Colorado$99,990720
Florida$99,6602,520
Maryland$98,400570
Nevada$98,070290
Pennsylvania$97,4501,250
Ohio$94,3901,050
North Carolina$90,000n/a
Tennessee$89,860930
Hawaii$89,30040
Texas$88,2702,480
South Carolina$87,990550
Michigan$86,6601,080
Louisiana$83,640160
North Dakota$83,17030
Wisconsin$81,130730
Iowa$80,940280
Idaho$80,680n/a
Oklahoma$80,680290
Alabama$77,220210
Kentucky$76,160320
Alaska$75,20040
Montana$73,850100
Nebraska$73,270140
Rhode Island$72,55090
Arkansas$71,930240
Connecticut$71,9001,160
South Dakota$66,61030
Mississippi$66,02090
West Virginia$63,55030
Kansas$60,460n/a

How to become a creative director

BLS lists the typical entry path as a bachelor's degree, 5 years or more of related work experience and no on-the-job training[2]. O*NET places the job in Job Zone Four, which means a considerable amount of preparation is needed[18].

In an O*NET survey of 25 workers, 68% said a bachelor's degree is required, 8% said a master's degree and 10% said a high school diploma or equivalent[23]. It is a small survey, so read it as a rough picture only.

BLS names these qualities as important: communication, creativity, leadership, resourcefulness and time management[24][25][26][27][28].

What creative directors do

O*NET describes the job as shaping design concepts for visual work such as print, broadcast, video and film, and directing people who make the artwork or layouts[29]. Tasks include:

Where they work

Self-employed workers were the largest group in 2025, at 62%[31]. Even so, art directors work with designers and other staff on visual effects or marketing teams[32]. BLS describes a fast-paced office setting where strict deadlines often bring pressure[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of art directors to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035[5]. That is a little above the 3.5% projected for all occupations[33]. The projection moves from about 140,200 to 146,000 jobs, a change of 5,900[5]. These counts include self-employed workers[5]. They differ from the OEWS count of wage and salary jobs[13].

BLS expects about 12,200 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.8% of workers leave the labor force and 4.3% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay of $114,850 is well above the all-occupations median of $50,980[1][4]. The range is wide, from $64,900 at the 10th percentile to $213,050 at the 90th[3]. The route in takes a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of related work, so it is not a first-job role[2]. Growth of 4.2% is slightly above the 3.5% for all jobs[5][33]. The job suits people who are comfortable with deadlines, client work and leading other artists[32][26]. The facts here do not cover school costs or how long each step takes.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a creative director make an hour?
The BLS category Art Directors had a median of $55.22 an hour in May 2025[1]. The average was $62.23 an hour[8].
What degree do you need to be a creative director?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[2]. It is usually in fine arts, design or a related area[19]. Experience of 5 years or more in a related job is also listed[2].
Is a creative director job in demand?
BLS projects 4.2% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[5][33]. About 12,200 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for art directors?
Massachusetts had the highest median at $149,320 in May 2025[14]. California was second at $137,780[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Art Directors in the US was $114,850 per year and $55.22 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Art Directors: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Art Directors: 10th percentile $64,900, 25th percentile $82,480, 75th percentile $162,640, 90th percentile $213,050. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Art Directors is projected to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 140,200 to 146,000 jobs (a change of +5,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 12,200 openings for Art Directors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. O*NET 27-1011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Art Director, Art Supervisor, Creative Director (CD Director), Creative Manager, Creative Services Director, Creative Services Manager, Design Director, Graphic Design and Art Production Manager. O*NET OnLine
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Art Directors was $129,440 per year and $62.23 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Art Directors: 10th percentile $31.20, 25th percentile $39.65, 75th percentile $78.19, 90th percentile $102.43. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 62.1% of Art Directors were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 53,070 people were employed as Art Directors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. Median annual wage for Art Directors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Art Directors jobs: California 12,430; New York 8,720; Illinois 2,960; Florida 2,520; Texas 2,480. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Art Directors (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $170,140; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $165,210; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $151,820; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $145,410; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $142,990; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $137,560; Worcester, MA $131,240; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $126,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Art Directors jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 8,980 (median $142,990); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,590 (median $137,560); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,560 (median $104,570); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 2,390 (median $165,210); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,550 (median $151,820); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,210 (median $87,810). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. O*NET 27-1011.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 27-1011.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 68%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 10%, Master's Degree 8%, Some College Courses 6%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Art Directors. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Art Directors. O*NET OnLine
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of art directors in 2025: Self-employed workers 62%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Art Directors: 3.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.