State comparison · 2025
Art Directors salary: California vs Maryland
Art Directors in California earn a median of $137,780. In Maryland, $98,400. After cost-of-living, the gap is 32.8% — not 40%.
Nominal pay gap
+40%
California vs Maryland
COL-adjusted gap
+32.8%
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%
Maryland
Art Directors
- Median
- $98,400
- p25
- $80,470
- p75
- $125,440
- p10
- $61,160
- p90
- $175,690
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 105.0
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.