Art Director salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Art Directors in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median of $104,360 a year ($50.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $203,620 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 24% lower than the California statewide median of $137,780. There are 0.19 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $120,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| 25th percentile | $83,290 | $40.05 |
| Median | $104,360 | $50.18 |
| 75th percentile | $134,360 | $64.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $203,620 | $97.89 |
| Average (mean) | $120,670 | $58.01 |
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 | $8,696.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,348.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,013.85 |
| Weekly | $2,006.92 |
| Hourly | $50.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $104,360 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 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $137,560 | 6,590 |
| 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 |
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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| Graphic Designer | $65,900 | $31.68 |
| Floral Designer | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Interior Designer | $76,090 | $36.58 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $80,300 | $38.60 |
| Fashion Designer | $96,760 | $46.52 |
| Designers, All Other | $65,370 | $31.43 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $73,780 | $35.47 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $95,420 | $45.88 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $45,260 | — |
| Public Relations Specialist | $77,010 | $37.03 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,380 | $28.07 |
| Producers and Directors | $97,360 | $46.81 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median salary for art directors in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $104,360 a year, or $50.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $203,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The top 10% of art directors in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn at least $203,620 a year. The top 25% earn $134,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,650 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $83,290 or less.
How many art directors work in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
About 320 art directors are employed in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.