Art Directors Salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
The median pay for a art directors in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $72,420/year ($34.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $78,564 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $72K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level art directors (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $80K 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 Memphis numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
How much do art directors make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $72,420 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,750, and experienced art directors can clear $124,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,945/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 25.8% 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 Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (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 $78,564 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.