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DATA PROFILE · 2025

Art Directors salary in District of Columbia

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated June 12, 2026
Last refreshed: Jun 12, 2026

Art Directors in District of Columbia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →

2025 wage data not published for art directors in District of Columbia

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage estimates when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish a figure without revealing individual firm pay. The privacy redaction happens upstream, before the data reaches us.

BLS still reports an estimated 310 workers in this role in District of Columbia in 2025.

Use national figures and adjacent states below as a reference, or check BLS confidentiality rules for context.

Salary distribution

Where District of Columbia art directors fall on the wage curve.

Distribution not available

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.

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By seniority

Art Directors pay by experience level in District of Columbia

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.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.

Median annual wage, District of Columbia2023 to 2024
$175,4402023$126,5202024

Typical entry

  • Education

    Bachelor's degree

  • Experience

    5 years or more

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Design

    Knowledge

    4.3 / 5
  • English Language

    Knowledge

    4.3 / 5
  • Originality

    Ability

    4.3 / 5
  • Fluency of Ideas

    Ability

    4.3 / 5
  • Computers and Electronics

    Knowledge

    4.2 / 5
  • Fine Arts

    Knowledge

    4.2 / 5
  • Communications and Media

    Knowledge

    4.1 / 5
  • Active Listening

    Basic skill

    4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.

  2. 02

    Present final layouts to clients for approval.

  3. 03

    Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.

  4. 04

    Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.

  5. 05

    Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.

  6. 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.

  7. 07

    Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.

  8. 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, 20242034 cycle.

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Top metros in District of Columbia

Metro-level salary data for art directors in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.

Compare Art Directors pay across nearby states

Side-by-side

Considering a move? Compare District of Columbia with another state

Frequently asked questions

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.
Disclaimer

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.