# Art Directors

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-directors
- SOC code: 27-1011.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $114,850 (10th percentile $64,900, 90th percentile $213,050)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.2%
- Openings a year: 12,200
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code AEC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 33 |
| Investigative (I) | 28 |
| Artistic (A) | 100 |
| Social (S) | 31 |
| Enterprising (E) | 71 |
| Conventional (C) | 43 |

## What you'd do

- Thinking Creatively (importance 99/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 84/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 84/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 80/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 72/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 70/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Time Management, Operations Analysis, Persuasion

## Knowledge

Design, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Fine Arts, Communications and Media, Sales and Marketing, Customer and Personal Service, Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Sociology and Anthropology

## Also called

Art Administrator (Art Admin), Art Coordinator, Art Director, Art Manager, Art Supervisor, Artistic Director, Brand Creative Director, Creative Art Director, Creative Design Director, Creative Director (CD Director)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Fine and Studio Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5007) (CIP 5007, 1,455 colleges)
- [Design and Applied Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5004) (CIP 5004, 1,175 colleges)
- [Visual and Performing Arts, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5001) (CIP 5001, 571 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Design and Applied Arts | $91,413 | $138,588 | $21,000 |
| [Lawrence Technological University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lawrence-technological-university-michigan-1459) | Design and Applied Arts | $62,595 | $99,444 | $27,000 |
| [University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-seattle-main-campus-3075) | Design and Applied Arts | $51,789 | $89,193 | $15,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Design and Applied Arts | $52,814 | $89,022 | $18,250 |
| [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute RPI](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-rpi-2221) | Design and Applied Arts | $34,202 | $87,358 | $25,500 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Design and Applied Arts | $61,815 | $87,336 | $19,500 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Design and Applied Arts | $56,560 | $83,414 | $19,750 |
| [Chapman University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/chapman-university-510) | Design and Applied Arts | $52,532 | $78,121 | $16,000 |

## Related careers

- [Graphic Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/graphic-designers): $62,960 median pay
- [Special Effects Artists and Animators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/special-effects-artists-and-animators): $102,030 median pay
- [Producers and Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/producers-and-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Project Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/project-management-specialists): $102,320 median pay
- [Writers and Authors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/writers-and-authors): $76,910 median pay
- [Set and Exhibit Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/set-and-exhibit-designers): $75,240 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.