Art Directors pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $216,120 or more. The middle half of art directors in Seattle earn between $86,730 and $157,140.
- $77K10th
- $87K25th
- $125KMedian
- $157K75th
- $216K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $133,830 | $11,152 | $64.34 |
| Median | $124,610 | $10,384 | $59.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,730 | $7,228 | $41.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $157,140 | $13,095 | $75.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Art directors in Seattle earn about the same as the Washington average ($130,550) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $133,830 | $124,610 | $76,610 | $216,120 | 520 |
| Washington | $130,550 | $121,170 | $69,690 | $215,900 | 650 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $133,830, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $102,739 a year, or $8,562 a month and $3,951 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $133,830 buys what about $120,423 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 2 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Seattle$133,830
- Spokane$100,720
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 Seattle: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Seattle?
$64.34 an hour on average, and $59.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Seattle?
About $102,739 a year ($8,562 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $133,830. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do art directors earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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