State comparison · 2025
Art Directors salary: California vs Kentucky
Art Directors in California earn a median of $137,780. In Kentucky, $76,160. After cost-of-living, the gap is 47.4% — not 80.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+80.9%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+47.4%
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%
Kentucky
Art Directors
- Median
- $76,160
- p25
- $59,530
- p75
- $98,320
- p10
- $42,990
- p90
- $121,940
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
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.