Career profile · SOC 27-1011

Art Directors

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in art work or layout design.

Median salary
$111,040
per year
Growth outlook
Average
BLS 10-yr
Education
Bachelor's degree
AI exposure
5.3/10
automation risk

Salary distribution (US)

Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.

Bottom 10%
$56,700
25th %ile
$76,280
Median
$111,040
75th %ile
$143,010
Top 10%
$192,350

Top skills

Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking Coordination Time Management Judgment and Decision Making Complex Problem Solving Management of Personnel Resources Social Perceptiveness Active Learning

Knowledge you'll build

  • Fine Arts
  • Design
  • Communications and Media
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Administration and Management
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sales and Marketing

A day in the life

Your morning begins with a creative briefing where the account team presents a new campaign and you start brainstorming visual concepts with copywriters and designers. You spend the middle of the day reviewing layouts, typography choices, and color schemes, giving feedback that pushes the work from good to unforgettable. Afternoons might take you to a photo or video shoot where you oversee art direction, making on-the-spot decisions about composition and styling. The role is a blend of big-picture creative vision and hands-on management, and the payoff is seeing your team's ideas plastered on billboards and screens.

Is Art Directors right for you?

Take the Holland test + Big-5 to see how well this career matches your profile.

Get personalised fit →