Art Director salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Art Directors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $109,500 a year ($52.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $211,170 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 21% lower than the California statewide median of $137,780. There are 0.26 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $121,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| 25th percentile | $77,780 | $37.40 |
| Median | $109,500 | $52.64 |
| 75th percentile | $135,270 | $65.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $211,170 | $101.53 |
| Average (mean) | $121,830 | $58.57 |
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 | $9,125 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,562.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,211.54 |
| Weekly | $2,105.77 |
| Hourly | $52.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $109,500 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 |
| 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $78,500 | $37.74 |
| Interior Designer | $78,960 | $37.96 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Fashion Designer | $108,220 | $52.03 |
| Floral Designer | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $95,170 | $45.76 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $46,710 | — |
| Public Relations Specialist | $78,450 | $37.72 |
| Producers and Directors | $76,860 | $36.95 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $94,590 | $45.48 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Editor | $73,300 | $35.24 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $82,440 | $39.63 |
| Photographer | $55,220 | $26.55 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for art directors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $109,500 a year, or $52.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $211,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of art directors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $211,170 a year. The top 25% earn $135,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,900 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $77,780 or less.
How many art directors work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 50 art directors are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.