Art Director salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Art Directors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $137,560 a year ($66.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $238,320 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $137,780. There are 1.1 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $156,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,720 | $40.25 |
| 25th percentile | $107,590 | $51.72 |
| Median | $137,560 | $66.14 |
| 75th percentile | $191,950 | $92.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $238,320 | $114.58 |
| Average (mean) | $156,680 | $75.33 |
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 | $11,463.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,731.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,290.77 |
| Weekly | $2,645.38 |
| Hourly | $66.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $137,560 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $170,140 | 600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $165,210 | 2,390 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $126,410 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $126,050 | 630 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $123,420 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $121,920 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $110,180 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $109,500 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $109,420 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,390 | 310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $104,360 | 320 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $72,400 | $34.81 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $124,590 | $59.90 |
| Interior Designer | $80,000 | $38.46 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $96,260 | $46.28 |
| Designers, All Other | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $106,880 | $51.38 |
| Floral Designer | $48,200 | $23.18 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $48,760 | $23.44 |
| Craft Artist | $100,410 | $48.28 |
| Actor | — | $55.29 |
| Producers and Directors | $131,600 | $63.27 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $79,860 | $38.39 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,450 | — |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for art directors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $137,560 a year, or $66.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $238,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of art directors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $238,320 a year. The top 25% earn $191,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,720 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $107,590 or less.
How many art directors work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 6,590 art directors are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.