State comparison · 2025
Art Directors salary: California vs North Carolina
Art Directors in California earn a median of $137,780. In North Carolina, $90,000. After cost-of-living, the gap is 30.4% — not 53.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+53.1%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+30.4%
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%
North Carolina
Art Directors
- Median
- $90,000
- p25
- $82,340
- p75
- $99,690
- p10
- $56,460
- p90
- $142,740
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
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.