Art Directors Salary
The median pay for a art directors in Massachusetts is $149,320/year ($71.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $149,186 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,347/month, or 25.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $149K get you in Massachusetts?
About art directors
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for art directors, local pay runs about 30% higher than the U.S. median of $115K. Rent runs $2,347/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level art directors (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $149K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $140K spread from bottom to top.
Art Directors salary by metro in Massachusetts
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $152K | +2% | 1,550 |
| Worcester | $131K | -12% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track art directors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a art director afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
Yes — at the median salary of $149K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for art directors in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new art directors typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,708/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is art director a high-paying job in Massachusetts?
Local pay is 30% above the national median — $149K here vs. $115K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for art directors?
Massachusetts pays $149K median vs. the U.S. average of $115K — that’s +30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $149K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do art directors make in Massachusetts?
The median is $149,320 a year, that works out to about $72 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,470, and experienced art directors can clear $218,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $149K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,779/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 26.7% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median art directors salary is worth about $149,186 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.