Salary AI Book a Demo

Art Director-visual Design Salary in California

How much does an Art Director-visual Design make in California? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Art Director-visual Design in California is $169,448 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $81.

However, an Art Director-visual Design's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $193,226
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $155,980 to $181,895
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $143,717
Salary Factors Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Art Director-visual Design Job Openings in California

Key Factors That Influence Art Director-visual Design Salaries

An Art Director-visual Design's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Art Director-visual Design Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Art Director-visual Design's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $96,789
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $124,462
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $150,618
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $171,589
  • Expert (over 8 years): $166,855
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
UI Designer II less than 1 year $96,789
UI Designer III 1-2 years $124,462
UI Designer IV 2-4 years $150,618
UI Designer V 5-8 years $171,589
Art Director-visual Design over 8 years $166,855

How Do Art Director-visual Design Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Art Director-visual Designs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $170,094.
  • California: $169,448.
  • Massachusetts: $167,190.

Top Paying Cities for Art Director-visual Design

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Los Angeles: $169,740
  • West Hollywood: $169,617
  • Dodgertown: $169,739

Art Director-visual Design Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Art Director-visual Design roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 5% above the average. In contrast, Art Director-visual Design positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Art Director-visual Design as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Art Director-visual Design

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense $177,921 $86.0 5%
Business Services $177,921 $86.0 5%
Construction $177,921 $86.0 5%
Energy & Utilities $177,921 $86.0 5%
Healthcare $177,921 $86.0 5%

Art Director-visual Design Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Art Director-visual Design's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$155,980
Average $169,448/year
$181,895
$12,998
Average $14,121/month
$15,158
$3,000
Average $3,259/week
$3,498
$75
Average $81/hour
$87
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $181,895 $15,158 $3,498 $87
Average $169,448 $14,121 $3,259 $81
25th Percentile $155,980 $12,998 $3,000 $75

Find Your Next Art Director-visual Design Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Art Director-visual Design job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Vino Design Build | NAPA COUNTY, CA

    Construction and Design Project Manager

    Vino Design Build | NAPA COUNTY, CA

    Position Overview. We are looking for a driven, experienced Design-Build Project Manager who can take full ownership of projects from initial concept throu... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Epic Special Education Staffing | WESTMINSTER, MD

    Teacher Certified in Visual Impairment

    Epic Special Education Staffing | WESTMINSTER, MD

    Epic Special Education Staffing is seeking a Teacher Certified in Visual Impairment for the 2026-2027 school year. In this role, you will provide specializ... more

    3 Days Ago

  • DICK'S Sporting Goods | PROGRESS, OR

    Field Visual Merchandiser

    DICK'S Sporting Goods | PROGRESS, OR

    Join DICK’S Sporting Goods as a Field Visual Merchandiser, driving impactful in-store presentations across multiple locations. You’ll execute brand-right v... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Epic Special Education Staffing | PHOENIX, AZ

    Teacher Certified in Visual Impairment

    Epic Special Education Staffing | PHOENIX, AZ

    Epic Special Education Staffing seeks a Teacher Certified in Visual Impairment to support K-12 students in school settings. The TVI will deliver direct and... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Epic Special Education Staffing | CENTENNIAL, CO

    Teacher Certified in Visual Impairment

    Epic Special Education Staffing | CENTENNIAL, CO

    Epic Special Education Staffing is seeking a Teacher Certified in Visual Impairment for the 2026-2027 school year. In this role, you will provide specializ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Epic Special Education Staffing | ARVADA, CO

    Teacher Certified in Visual Impairment

    Epic Special Education Staffing | ARVADA, CO

    Epic Special Education Staffing seeks a Teacher Certified in Visual Impairment for the 2026–2027 school year to support students with diverse visual and le... more

    4 Days Ago

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst