Salary data · BLS OEWS 2025
Creative Director Salary in the US
A Creative Director earns a national median of $114,850 per year. Here is how pay breaks down across US metro areas.
In Brief
Creative Director (BLS occupation 27-1011) earns a national median of $114,850 and a mean of $129,440 per year as of 2025. The highest-paying metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $170,140. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
National pay
Top-paying US metro areas
Ranked by median annual wage · BLS OEWS 2025
About this data
All wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, mapped to occupation code 27-1011 (Art Directors). Figures are gross annual wages before tax and reflect employees only — self-employed and freelance earnings are not included.
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How much does a Creative Director earn in the US?▼
The national median wage for a Creative Director is $114,850 per year (mean $129,440), per the BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for 2025.
Which US cities pay Creative Directors the most?▼
The top-paying metro areas are San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($170,140), San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley ($165,210), Boston-Cambridge-Nashua ($151,820).
Where does this Creative Director salary data come from?▼
All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, occupation code 27-1011. Wages are gross annual, before tax.
Is Creative Director a well-paid career?▼
At a median of $114,850/year, Creative Director pay sits above the US median for all occupations. Pay varies widely by metro — see the city table above.