Art Directors Salary
The median pay for a art directors in Wisconsin is $81,130/year ($39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $86,007 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Wisconsin?
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for art directors in Wisconsin runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $115K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 23.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Wisconsin can be a reasonable trade-off for art directorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level art directors (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Art Directors salary by metro in Wisconsin
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $91K | +12% | 260 |
| Madison | $84K | +3% | 130 |
| Green Bay | $80K | -2% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track art directors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a art director afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 23.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for art directors in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new art directors typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,508/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $81K here vs. $115K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for art directors?
Wisconsin pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $115K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — below the national median.
How much do art directors make in Wisconsin?
The median is $81,130 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,470, and experienced art directors can clear $131,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,184/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 23.2% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $86,007 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.