Art Directors Salary in San Jose, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Median annual salary $170,760 +53.8% vs national
Median hourly $82.10
10th percentile $107,750
90th percentile —
Employed locally 850
National median $111,040

Compare Art Directors salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Jose, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Art Directors
in
San Jose, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $107,750
    25th
    $135,750
    50th (median)
    $170,760
    75th
    $185,380

    San Jose economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $157,444 2023 • Census ACS
    Art Directors salary vs area income 108% Median Art Directors salary is 8% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Art Directors

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $158,690
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $155,350
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $153,890
    Oregon $148,410
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $143,490
    Washington $143,490

    Nearby metros — Art Directors salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $158,690
    California $133,930
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $133,550
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $132,340
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $122,500
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $114,300

    Related occupations in San Jose, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Coaches and Scouts$54,520
    Public Relations Specialists$101,200
    Graphic Designers$98,530
    Technical Writers$135,880
    Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$45,110
    Editors$96,270

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Art Directors make per hour in San Jose?

    The median hourly wage for Art Directors in San Jose, CA is $82.10, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $132.19 or more per hour.

    Is San Jose above or below average for Art Directors salaries?

    The median Art Directors salary in San Jose, CA is 53.8% above the national median of $111,040. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Art Directors in San Jose?

    Entry-level Art Directors (10th percentile) earn around $107,750 per year in San Jose, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $135,750.