Art Director salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Art Directors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $126,050 a year ($60.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 630 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $211,550 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $137,780. There are 0.41 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $137,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,140 | $37.57 |
| 25th percentile | $98,570 | $47.39 |
| Median | $126,050 | $60.60 |
| 75th percentile | $165,330 | $79.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $211,550 | $101.71 |
| Average (mean) | $137,320 | $66.02 |
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 | $10,504.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,252.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,848.08 |
| Weekly | $2,424.04 |
| Hourly | $60.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $126,050 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 |
| 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Interior Designer | $80,640 | $38.77 |
| Floral Designer | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $99,650 | $47.91 |
| Fashion Designer | $82,010 | $39.43 |
| Designers, All Other | $76,070 | $36.57 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $118,750 | $57.09 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $76,900 | $36.97 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $73,840 | $35.50 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,230 | — |
| Public Relations Specialist | $81,240 | $39.06 |
| Producers and Directors | $99,520 | $47.85 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $59,470 | $28.59 |
| Editor | $78,870 | $37.92 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for art directors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $126,050 a year, or $60.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $211,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of art directors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $211,550 a year. The top 25% earn $165,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,140 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $98,570 or less.
How many art directors work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 630 art directors are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.