Art Directors Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The median pay for a art directors in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $93,200/year ($44.81/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $235K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $95,521 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $93K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About art directors
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level art directors (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $235K or more, a $210K spread from bottom to top.
Art Directors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $148K | +34% | 1,040 |
| Washington | $143K | +29% | 1,740 |
| New York | $137K | +23% | 8,300 |
| California | $134K | +21% | 12,540 |
| Georgia | $132K | +19% | 1,050 |
| Massachusetts | $131K | +18% | 1,810 |
| District of Columbia | $127K | +14% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $126K | +13% | 1,620 |
| Hawaii | $108K | -2% | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $102K | -8% | 120 |
| Connecticut | $101K | -9% | 680 |
| Illinois | $101K | -9% | 2,750 |
| Maryland | $100K | -10% | 430 |
| Indiana | $99K | -11% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $98K | -11% | 1,120 |
| Delaware | $97K | -12% | 40 |
| Virginia | $96K | -14% | 860 |
| Vermont | $95K | -15% | 40 |
| Missouri | $94K | -15% | 740 |
| Florida | $94K | -16% | 2,240 |
| Ohio | $92K | -17% | 1,140 |
| Utah | $91K | -18% | 400 |
| Pennsylvania | $90K | -19% | 890 |
| Nevada | $90K | -19% | 230 |
| North Carolina | $90K | -19% | 880 |
| Michigan | $87K | -22% | 1,020 |
| Arizona | $85K | -23% | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $85K | -23% | 580 |
| Iowa | $81K | -27% | 370 |
| Texas | $80K | -28% | 2,690 |
| Maine | $78K | -30% | 80 |
| Montana | $77K | -30% | 50 |
| Alabama | $77K | -31% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $76K | -32% | 750 |
| Nebraska | $75K | -32% | 150 |
| Idaho | $75K | -32% | 220 |
| Oklahoma | $73K | -34% | 190 |
| Kansas | $70K | -37% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $68K | -38% | 290 |
| Arkansas | $67K | -39% | 140 |
| South Carolina | $66K | -40% | 340 |
| Louisiana | $66K | -41% | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $65K | -41% | 110 |
| Alaska | $61K | -45% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $60K | -46% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track art directors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do art directors make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $93,200 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,960, and experienced art directors can clear $234,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,813/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 29.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a art directors salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median art directors salary is worth about $95,521 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do art directors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.