Art Directors in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California art directors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $106,470 and $192,380, with a median of $137,780.
Art Directors in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 100 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $190,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 18 | $86,570 |
| Level II — qualified | 17 | $160,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 18 | $191,341 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 41 | $200,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Art Directors in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. | Marcom Art Director | 18 | $193,461 |
| Intuit Inc. | Manager, Product Design | 9 | $223,660 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Product Design Manager | 8 | $238,860 |
| 5 Star Apparel LLC | Creative Director, Design “ Mens Billabong | 2 | $250,000 |
| A52, LLC | Creative Director | 2 | $199,996 |
| ANOMALY PARTNERS LA LLC | CREATIVE DIRECTOR | 2 | $212,500 |
| APPLE SENTITY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS LLC | Content Creative Producer | 2 | $161,600 |
| Circa XV Inc | Art Director | 2 | $85,457 |
| CONVICTS INC. | CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER | 2 | $190,000 |
| Gap Inc. | Associate Creative Director | 2 | $195,367 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Marcom Art Director at Apple Inc.$199,243SunnyvaleWage Level IVDecided Mar 25, 2026I-203-26077-713178
- DESIGN DIRECTOR at MATTER OF PRACTICE INC$86,571LOS ANGELESWage Level IDecided Mar 20, 2026I-203-26075-703976
- Technical Art Director at Electronic Arts Inc.$197,031Redwood CityWage Level IIIDecided Mar 5, 2026I-200-26057-666344
- Design Director at Qualia Labs, Inc.$265,000BerkeleyWage Level IVDecided Feb 24, 2026I-200-26048-644898
- VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR at CREATIVE INDEX INC$97,760BERKELEYWage Level IDecided Feb 23, 2026I-203-26047-642340
- Manager, Product Design at Intuit Inc.$232,606San DiegoWage Level IIIDecided Feb 20, 2026I-200-26043-638217
- Creative Director at BUSINESS AND PLEASURE CO. LLC$181,896CarsonWage Level IVDecided Feb 19, 2026I-203-26042-634210
- Marcom Art Director at Apple Inc.$160,914SunnyvaleDecided Feb 6, 2026I-203-26030-610568
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Art Directors pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Art Directors specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 67 certified offers. The most common variant is Creative Director at a median of $199,996.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Director | A52, LLC | 20 | $199,996 |
| Manager, Product Design | Intuit Inc. | 13 | $204,400 |
| Art Director | Circa XV Inc | 12 | $111,300 |
| Marcom Art Director | Apple Inc. | 10 | $177,702 |
| Product Design Manager | Meta Platforms, Inc | 3 | $267,540 |
| Content Creative Producer | APPLE SENTITY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS LLC | 3 | $163,200 |
| Design Director | MATTER OF PRACTICE INC | 3 | $180,000 |
| DIRECTOR, CREATIVE | INSOMNIAC HOLDINGS, LLC | 3 | $178,499 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Art Directors in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 100 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $117,998.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | 5 Star Apparel LLC | 31 | $117,998 |
| Technology and software | Intuit Inc. | 28 | $205,000 |
| Manufacturing | Apple Inc. | 24 | $186,228 |
| Retail and wholesale | Gap Inc. | 9 | $181,896 |
| Media and entertainment | A52, LLC | 4 | $197,496 |
| Nonprofit and civic | NETWORK OF COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURS | 2 | $155,837 |
| Real estate | Acomb Ostendorf & Associates LLC | 2 | $192,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.3 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Originality
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Fluency of Ideas
Ability
- 4.2 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Fine Arts
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Communications and Media
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- 02
Present final layouts to clients for approval.
- 03
Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
- 04
Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
- 05
Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
- 06
Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
- 07
Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
- 08
Mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for art directors in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$170,140
- San Francisco$165,210
- Los Angeles$137,560
- San Diego$126,050
- Sacramento$106,390
- Riverside$104,360
Compare Art Directors pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Art Directors in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Art Directors in California is $137,780.
- How does California compare to the national median for Art Directors?
- The California median is +19.1% versus the BLS national figure of $115,637.
- What is the salary range for Art Directors in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $81,500 and the 90th-percentile at $249,210, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Art Directors a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Art Directors?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.