Art Director Salary in Washington
Based on 650+ workers in Washington
Data year: 2025 · Last updated: October 2026
Median Annual Salary (WA)
$121,170
$58.25/hr
vs National Average
$94,938
+27.6% vs national median
Salary Range (10th–90th)
$70K – $216K
650 employed in Washington
Salary Distribution — Art Director in Washington
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $69,690 |
| 25th percentile | $82,790 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $121,170 |
| 75th percentile | $157,140 |
| 90th percentile | $215,900 |
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 Washington 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 Washington vs National
| Year | Median Salary (Washington) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $108,780 |
| 2023 | $129,680 |
| 2024 | $143,490 |
| 2025 | $121,170 |
| 2026 (projected) | $121,170 |
The latest year is a projection based on recent wage trends — BLS has not yet released that year’s data.
| Year | Washington Median | National Median |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $108,780 | $88,111 |
| 2023 | $129,680 | $89,717 |
| 2024 | $143,490 | $93,068 |
| 2025 | $121,170 | $94,938 |
| 2026 (projected) | $121,170 | $94,938 |
Art Director Salary by Experience Level in Washington
| Experience Level | Years | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0-2 yrs | $82,790 |
| Mid-level | 3-5 yrs | $121,170 |
| Senior | 6-9 yrs | $157,140 |
| Staff / Lead | 10+ yrs | $215,900 |
Art Director Salary in Other States
Related Art Director Salaries in Washington
How other high-demand occupations in Washington compare to Art Director ($121,170 median).
| Occupation | Median Salary | vs Art Director | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial and Industrial Designer in WA | $94,280 | -22.2% | $45.33/hr |
| Producer and Director in WA | $81,550 | -32.7% | $39.21/hr |
| Interior Designer in WA | $76,570 | -36.8% | $36.81/hr |
| Graphic Designer in WA | $72,710 | -40.0% | $34.96/hr |
| Audio and Video Technician in WA | $69,270 | -42.8% | $33.30/hr |
| Property and Real Estate Manager in WA | $119,320 | -1.5% | $57.37/hr |
| Project Management Specialist in WA | $124,160 | +2.5% | $59.69/hr |
| Registered Nurse in WA | $124,200 | +2.5% | $59.71/hr |
| Environmental Engineer in WA | $125,460 | +3.5% | $60.32/hr |
| Computer Programmer in WA | $125,620 | +3.7% | $60.39/hr |
| Psychologist in WA | $115,240 | -4.9% | $55.40/hr |
| Personal Financial Advisor in WA | $114,050 | -5.9% | $54.83/hr |