RateOrchard
State comparison · 2025

Art Directors salary: California vs Iowa

Occupation

Art Directors in California earn a median of $137,780. In Iowa, $80,940. After cost-of-living, the gap is 35% — not 70.2%.

Nominal pay gap
+70.2%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+35%
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%
See full breakdown for California

Iowa

Art Directors

Median
$80,940
p25
$70,770
p75
$106,910
p10
$62,990
p90
$126,990
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
87.8
See full breakdown for Iowa

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.