Art Director salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An art director earns a median of $114,850 a year ($55.22 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $129,440. About 53,070 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $114,850
- Gross pay
- $4,417.31
- Federal income tax
- −$632.19
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$273.87
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$64.05
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $3,447.19
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $114,850
- Federal
- $16,437
- FICA
- $8,786
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $89,627
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Similar jobs
- Special Effects Artist and Animator: $102,030
- Technical Writer: $90,390
- Producer and Director: $90,360
- Commercial and Industrial Designer: $83,910
- Fashion Designer: $80,960
- Editor: $77,920
- Writer and Author: $76,910
- Film and Video Editor: $75,420
BLS occupation: Art Directors. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 27-1011). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an art director make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $55.22; the average is $62.23.
What is the salary range for an art director?
The bottom 10% earn under $64,900 and the top 10% earn over $213,050 a year.
How much is $114,850 after taxes?
About $89,627 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $81,698 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.