Art Directors Salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
The median pay for a art directors in Lexington-Fayette, KY is $62,710/year ($30.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.89), which stretches that salary to about $67,510 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month — about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $63K get you in Lexington-Fayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lexington-Fayette’s Regional Price Parity (92.89). 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, Lexington-Fayette, KY
Entry-level art directors (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $53K 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 Lexington-Fayette numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do art directors make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median is $62,710 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,540, and experienced art directors can clear $104,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Lexington-Fayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,160/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 30.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a art directors salary go in Lexington-Fayette?
Lexington-Fayette has a Regional Price Parity of 92.89 (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 $67,510 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.