Art Director salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Art Directors in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $93,270 a year ($44.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,340 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 8% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $101,150. There are 0.10 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.31). The average (mean) salary is $95,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,790 | $26.34 |
| 25th percentile | $74,680 | $35.90 |
| Median | $93,270 | $44.84 |
| 75th percentile | $113,600 | $54.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,340 | $69.40 |
| Average (mean) | $95,480 | $45.90 |
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 | $7,772.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,886.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,587.31 |
| Weekly | $1,793.65 |
| Hourly | $44.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $93,270 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $105,990 | 820 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $103,990 | 200 |
| Richmond, VA | $99,610 | 160 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $93,740 | 100 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $90,000 | n/a |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $85,610 | 100 |
| Wilmington, NC | $84,730 | 40 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $84,100 | 90 |
| Asheville, NC | $72,710 | 50 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| Graphic Designer | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| Interior Designer | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Floral Designer | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $78,430 | $37.71 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $73,890 | $35.52 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $44,810 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $56,730 | $27.28 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $53,960 | $25.94 |
| Technical Writer | $79,340 | $38.14 |
| Editor | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Photographer | $42,210 | $20.29 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for art directors in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $93,270 a year, or $44.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of art directors in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $144,340 a year. The top 25% earn $113,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,790 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $74,680 or less.
How many art directors work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 80 art directors are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.