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
Live Creative Director openings
18 nowAggregated from Adzuna, RemoteOK, Jooble, Reed, Jobicy· updated through the day
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.
Is Creative Director the right fit for you?
Take the 2-minute Career Match test and see which roles match how you actually work.
Take the Career Match testFAQ
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.