Arts, design, media and sports
Art director
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
Median pay
$114,850
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
12,200
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Art director
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Art director: 62% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- Present final layouts to clients for approval.
- Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
- Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
- Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
- Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
- Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
- Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
Also called: Art Director · Art Supervisor · Creative Director (CD Director) · Creative Manager · Creative Services Director · Creative Services Manager · Design Director · Graphic Design and Art Production Manager
Outlook and AI
Art directors held 140,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 146,000 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Art director vs. Graphic designer
- Art director vs. Special effects artists and animators
- Art director vs. Producers and directors
- Art director vs. Project manager
- Art director vs. Writers and authors
- Art director vs. Set and exhibit designers
- Art director vs. Computer occupations, all other
- Art director vs. Public relations specialist