Art Directors pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,290 or more. The middle half of art directors in Columbus earn between $81,250 and $126,660.
- $67K10th
- $81K25th
- $102KMedian
- $127K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,430 | $8,869 | $51.17 |
| Median | $101,990 | $8,499 | $49.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,250 | $6,771 | $39.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,660 | $10,555 | $60.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Columbus vs. Ohio and the U.S.
Art directors in Columbus earn 6% more than the Ohio average ($100,300) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $106,430 | $101,990 | $67,030 | $158,290 | 250 |
| Ohio | $100,300 | $94,390 | $57,740 | $148,080 | 1,050 |
| United States | $129,440 | $114,850 | $64,900 | $213,050 | 53,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Art Directors salary after taxes in Columbus
On the average salary of $106,430, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $78,551 a year, or $6,546 a month and $3,021 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Is Columbus a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $106,430 buys what about $111,481 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($51,340). A typical home costs $333,537, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other Ohio cities
Columbus ranks 1st of 5 Ohio metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Columbus$106,430
- Cincinnati$102,010
- Dayton$101,700
- Cleveland$98,150
- Akron$92,310
Highest-paying cities for art directors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,620).
- San Jose, CA$182,620
- San Francisco, CA$169,940
- New York, NY$161,120
- Portland, OR$158,630
- Los Angeles, CA$156,680
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Art Directors salary in Columbus: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Columbus?
$51.17 an hour on average, and $49.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Columbus?
About $78,551 a year ($6,546 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,430. Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Do art directors earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($129,440).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1011; area Columbus, OH (18140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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