State comparison · 2025
Art Directors salary: California vs Illinois
Art Directors in California earn a median of $137,780. In Illinois, $103,550. After cost-of-living, the gap is 20.2% — not 33.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+33.1%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+20.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Art Directors
- Median
- $137,780
- p25
- $106,470
- p75
- $192,380
- p10
- $81,500
- p90
- $249,210
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -11%
Illinois
Art Directors
- Median
- $103,550
- p25
- $79,820
- p75
- $134,680
- p10
- $69,200
- p90
- $172,050
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.