Art Directors Salary
The median pay for a art directors in Oregon is $133,840/year ($64.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $217K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $130,652 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,555/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $134K get you in Oregon?
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What this looks like in Oregon
Oregon sits well above the national pay line for art directors, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $115K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,555/month, 20.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Oregon offers a genuinely strong financial position for art directorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level art directors (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $217K or more, a $127K spread from bottom to top.
Art Directors salary by metro in Oregon
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $145K | +9% | 880 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $103K | -23% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track art directors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a art director afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 20.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for art directors in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new art directors typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,363/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is art director a high-paying job in Oregon?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $134K here vs. $115K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for art directors?
Oregon pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $115K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $131K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do art directors make in Oregon?
The median is $133,840 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $89,390, and experienced art directors can clear $216,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,581/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 20.5% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (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 $130,652 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.