Art Director salary in Asheville, NC
Art Directors in the Asheville, NC metro area earn a median of $72,710 a year ($34.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,510 for the top 10%. That is 37% lower than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 19% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $90,000. There are 0.25 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $74,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in Asheville, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| 25th percentile | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Median | $72,710 | $34.96 |
| 75th percentile | $87,020 | $41.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,510 | $55.54 |
| Average (mean) | $74,360 | $35.75 |
Half of art directors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,059.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,029.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,796.54 |
| Weekly | $1,398.27 |
| Hourly | $34.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $72,710 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Art Director salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $103,990 | 200 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $93,740 | 100 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $93,270 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $90,000 | n/a |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $85,610 | 100 |
| Wilmington, NC | $84,730 | 40 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $84,100 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for art directors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $149,320 |
| California | $137,780 |
| New York | $137,320 |
| Oregon | $133,840 |
| New Hampshire | $132,000 |
| Vermont | $129,260 |
| New Jersey | $129,200 |
| Washington | $121,170 |
| Georgia | $110,430 |
| Minnesota | $109,700 |
See Art Director pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Asheville, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| Graphic Designer | $56,760 | $27.29 |
| Floral Designer | $40,760 | $19.60 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $81,070 | $38.97 |
| Interior Designer | $60,160 | $28.92 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $44,890 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $62,880 | $30.23 |
| Photographer | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| Editor | $66,210 | $31.83 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Writers and Authors | $70,280 | $33.79 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $41,580 | $19.99 |
| Technical Writer | $68,180 | $32.78 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Asheville, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make in Asheville, NC?
The median salary for art directors in the Asheville, NC metro area is $72,710 a year, or $34.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in Asheville, NC?
The top 10% of art directors in the Asheville, NC metro area earn at least $115,510 a year. The top 25% earn $87,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in Asheville, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,580 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $48,430 or less.
How many art directors work in Asheville, NC?
About 50 art directors are employed in the Asheville, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.