Art Director Salary in Tennessee
Based on 930+ workers in Tennessee
Data year: 2025 · Last updated: October 2026
Median Annual Salary (TN)
$89,860
$43.20/hr
vs National Average
$94,938
-5.3% vs national median
Salary Range (10th–90th)
$51K – $172K
930 employed in Tennessee
Salary Distribution — Art Director in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,530 |
| 25th percentile | $71,590 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $89,860 |
| 75th percentile | $125,590 |
| 90th percentile | $172,130 |
Top-Paying Industries for Art Director (U.S.)
Which industries pay Art Directors the most — nationwide figures (industry-level data is not available by state). Art Directors in Tennessee tend to follow these industry patterns.
| Industry (U.S.) | Median Salary | Employed (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Insurance | $140,600 | 550 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $136,020 | 3K |
| Information | $129,620 | 9K |
| Administrative and Support Services | $129,430 | 2K |
| Construction | $126,200 | — |
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS National Industry-Specific estimates, May 2025. National figures (not state-specific).
Historical Salary Trend — Art Director in Tennessee vs National
| Year | Median Salary (Tennessee) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $76,430 |
| 2023 | $76,700 |
| 2024 | $75,820 |
| 2025 | $89,860 |
| 2026 (projected) | $95,252 |
The latest year is a projection based on recent wage trends — BLS has not yet released that year’s data.
| Year | Tennessee Median | National Median |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $76,430 | $88,111 |
| 2023 | $76,700 | $89,717 |
| 2024 | $75,820 | $93,068 |
| 2025 | $89,860 | $94,938 |
| 2026 (projected) | $95,252 | $100,634 |
Art Director Salary by Experience Level in Tennessee
| Experience Level | Years | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0-2 yrs | $71,590 |
| Mid-level | 3-5 yrs | $89,860 |
| Senior | 6-9 yrs | $125,590 |
| Staff / Lead | 10+ yrs | $172,130 |
Art Director Salary in Other States
Related Art Director Salaries in Tennessee
How other high-demand occupations in Tennessee compare to Art Director ($89,860 median).
| Occupation | Median Salary | vs Art Director | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Producer and Director in TN | $73,020 | -18.7% | $35.11/hr |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer in TN | $71,230 | -20.7% | $34.25/hr |
| Interior Designer in TN | $63,660 | -29.2% | $30.61/hr |
| Graphic Designer in TN | $57,270 | -36.3% | $27.53/hr |
| Audio and Video Technician in TN | $49,970 | -44.4% | $24.02/hr |
| Network Administrator in TN | $88,100 | -2.0% | $42.36/hr |
| Chemist in TN | $87,930 | -2.1% | $42.27/hr |
| Materials Engineer in TN | $91,940 | +2.3% | $44.20/hr |
| Financial Examiner in TN | $87,110 | -3.1% | $41.88/hr |
| Financial Analyst in TN | $92,990 | +3.5% | $44.71/hr |
| Budget Analyst in TN | $86,570 | -3.7% | $41.62/hr |
| Project Management Specialist in TN | $85,890 | -4.4% | $41.29/hr |