State comparison · 2025
Art Directors salary: California vs Tennessee
Art Directors in California earn a median of $137,780. In Tennessee, $89,860. After cost-of-living, the gap is 27.3% — not 53.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+53.3%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+27.3%
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%
Tennessee
Art Directors
- Median
- $89,860
- p25
- $71,590
- p75
- $125,590
- p10
- $50,530
- p90
- $172,130
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
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.