Art Director salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Art Directors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $170,140 a year ($81.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 600 workers.
Pay ranges from $115,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $274,950 for the top 10%. That is 48% higher than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 23% higher than the California statewide median of $137,780. There are 0.53 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $182,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $115,770 | $55.66 |
| 25th percentile | $134,070 | $64.46 |
| Median | $170,140 | $81.80 |
| 75th percentile | $213,610 | $102.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $274,950 | $132.19 |
| Average (mean) | $182,620 | $87.80 |
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 | $14,178.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,089.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,543.85 |
| Weekly | $3,271.92 |
| Hourly | $81.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $170,140 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 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 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $97,360 | $46.81 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $54,530 | $26.22 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $156,950 | $75.46 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $141,310 | $67.94 |
| Interior Designer | $85,140 | $40.93 |
| Floral Designer | $47,040 | $22.61 |
| Designers, All Other | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $117,620 | $56.55 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $57,250 | — |
| Technical Writer | $140,700 | $67.65 |
| Editor | $117,580 | $56.53 |
| Writers and Authors | $118,810 | $57.12 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $73,100 | $35.15 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $101,530 | $48.81 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for art directors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $170,140 a year, or $81.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $115,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $274,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of art directors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $274,950 a year. The top 25% earn $213,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $115,770 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $134,070 or less.
How many art directors work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 600 art directors are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.