Salary distribution
Where Illinois art directors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,760 and $127,700, with a median of $100,530.
Art Directors in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 10 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $132,500. 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 | 2 | $72,610 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $95,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $160,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Art Directors in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy BBDO Inc. | Senior Art Director | 2 | $127,500 |
| MischiefNoFixedAddress Inc. | Art Director | 1 | $115,000 |
| Les Enluminures, Ltd. | Art Director | 1 | $70,221 |
| Daniel J. Edelman Inc. | Vice President, Creative Director | 1 | $155,000 |
| FCB Worldwide, Inc. | Senior Art Director | 1 | $75,000 |
| The Harbor Picture Company, Inc. | Head of Color, Advertising | 1 | $250,000 |
| BIG HOUSE STUDIO LLC | Art Director | 1 | $93,600 |
| Euromarket Designs, Inc. (d/b/a Crate & Barrel and CB2) | Senior Vice President, Creative | 1 | $454,585 |
| Leo Burnett Company, Inc. | Associate Creative Director, Art Director | 1 | $150,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Art Director at MischiefNoFixedAddress Inc.$115,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided May 20, 2025I-202-25133-968703
- Art Director at Les Enluminures, Ltd.$70,221ChicagoWage Level IDecided May 14, 2025I-200-25127-947135
- Vice President, Creative Director at Daniel J. Edelman Inc.$155,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided May 14, 2025I-200-25127-947745
- Senior Art Director at Energy BBDO Inc.$95,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided May 13, 2025I-200-25126-943545
- Senior Art Director at FCB Worldwide, Inc.$75,000ChicagoWage Level IDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25120-923070
- Head of Color, Advertising at The Harbor Picture Company, Inc.$250,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Apr 23, 2025I-200-25106-869649
- Art Director at BIG HOUSE STUDIO LLC$93,600CHICAGOWage Level IIDecided Feb 21, 2025I-200-25044-690976
- Creative Director at Energy BBDO Inc.$160,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Feb 10, 2025I-203-25034-661204
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.
Art Directors pay by experience level in Illinois
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 in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $150,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Energy BBDO Inc. | 9 | $150,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Les Enluminures, Ltd. | 1 | $70,221 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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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Metro-level salary data for art directors in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$102,380
Compare Art Directors pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Art Directors in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Art Directors in Illinois is $100,530.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Art Directors?
- The Illinois median is -12.4% versus the BLS national figure of $114,795.
- What is the salary range for Art Directors in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,880 and the 90th-percentile at $168,850, 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.