Creative directors are at the heart of a design agency. They come up with the vision to inspire and challenge their teams, helping to make their agencies different from its competitors.
Introduction
The average annual pay for a Creative Director in the United States is $92,219 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $44.34 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,773/week or $7,685/month.
While is seeing annual salaries as high as $180,000 and as low as $20,500, the majority of Creative Director salaries currently range between $60,000 (25th percentile) to $111,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $153,000 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Creative Director varies greatly (by as much as $51,000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.
Based on recent job posting activity on the Creative Director job market in both Lagos, NG and throughout the entire state of is not very active as few companies are currently hiring. A Creative Director in your area makes on average $92,235 per year, or $16 (0%) more than the national average annual salary of $92,219. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Creative Director salaries.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Creative Director Jobs
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Creative Director job is above the national average. Topping the list is San Jose, CA, with Oakland, CA and Hayward, CA close behind in the second and third positions. Hayward, CA beats the national average by $17,429 (18.9%), and San Jose, CA furthers that trend with another $20,747 (22.5%) above the $92,219 average.
With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Creative Director appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little at 7% between San Jose, CA and Antioch, CA, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Creative Director role.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $112,966 | $9,414 | $2,172 | $54.31 |
| Oakland, CA | $111,780 | $9,315 | $2,150 | $53.74 |
| Hayward, CA | $109,649 | $9,137 | $2,109 | $52.72 |
| Seattle, WA | $109,140 | $9,095 | $2,099 | $52.47 |
| Wasilla, AK | $107,822 | $8,985 | $2,073 | $51.84 |
| Concord, CA | $107,757 | $8,980 | $2,072 | $51.81 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | $107,496 | $8,958 | $2,067 | $51.68 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $107,394 | $8,949 | $2,065 | $51.63 |
| Seaside, CA | $105,725 | $8,810 | $2,033 | $50.83 |
| Antioch, CA | $104,931 | $8,744 | $2,018 | $50.45 |
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Creative Director Jobs in the U.S.
We found at least five jobs related to the Creative Director job category that pay more per year than a typical Creative Director salary. Top examples of these roles include: VP Creative, Creative Strategist, and Senior Creative Director.
Importantly, all of these jobs are paid between $23,674 (25.7%) and $54,194 (58.8%) more than the average Creative Director salary of $92,219. If you’re qualified, getting hired for one of these related Creative Director jobs may help you make more money than that of the average Creative Director position.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VP Creative | $146,413 | $12,201 | $2,816 | $70.39 |
| Creative Strategist | $138,395 | $11,533 | $2,661 | $66.54 |
| Senior Creative Director | $132,180 | $11,015 | $2,542 | $63.55 |
| VP Creative Director | $131,880 | $10,990 | $2,536 | $63.40 |
| Creative Engineer | $115,893 | $9,658 | $2,229 | $55.72 |
Salary Ranges for Creative Directors
The salaries of Creative Directors in the US range from $31,500 to $335,000 , with a median salary of $135,000 . The middle 57% of Creative Directors makes between $135,000 and $200,000, with the top 86% making $335,000.
How much tax will you have to pay as a Creative Director
For an individual filer in this tax bracket, you would have an estimated average federal tax in 2018 of 24%. After a federal tax rate of 24% has been taken out, Creative Directors could expect to have a take-home pay of $111,722/year, with each paycheck equaling approximately $4,655*.
* assuming bi-monthly pay period. Taxes estimated using tax rates for a single filer using 2018 federal and state tax tables. Metro-specific taxes are not considered in calculations. This data is intended to be an estimate, not prescriptive financial or tax advice.
Recent Salary Records for Creative Director
View the most recent Salary Records anonymously contributed on Comparably.
- A Caucasian Male Creative Director reported making $150,500 per year in Naperville at a company with 201-500 Employees in Tech industry.12 days ago · $150,500· 201-500 Employees· Naperville, IL
- A Caucasian Male Creative Director reported making $190,000 per year in San Francisco at a company with 10,000+ Employees in Tech industry.12 days ago · $190,000· 10,000+ Employees· San Francisco, CA
- A Creative Director reported making $110,000 per year in Dallas17 days ago · $110,000· Dallas, TXview more
Quality of Life for Creative Director
With a take-home pay of roughly $9,310/month, and the median 2BR apartment rental price of $2,506/mo**, a Creative Director would pay 26.92% of their monthly take-home salary towards rent.
Creative directors are the people who make sure that your company’s brand and identity are consistent across all mediums, from print to web to social media.
But what do creative directors actually cost? And how does that cost compare to other positions in your company?
We’ve put together a list of creative director salaries—along with an analysis of the factors that affect those salaries—to help you make an informed decision when it comes time to hire or promote this critical position at your company.
$150,000
Creative directors are a rare breed. They’re the ones who can see the big picture when everyone else is stuck in the details. They’re the ones who can make you laugh even when the joke’s on you. They’re the ones who always know how to get what they want and then some.
They know what they want, too: $150,000 a year. That’s right—$150k for someone who’s basically like a super-creative director. The kind of person who can do everything from write copy for ads to design print materials to lead brainstorming sessions with clients, all while wearing a suit that costs more than your car payment (and maybe even your mortgage).
And yes, it’s worth it. Because at the end of the day, they’re making sure your company makes money instead of losing it—and if you can afford $150k for one person, why wouldn’t you?
Conclusion
Overall, the average salary for a creative director is $92,000 annually. This data is varied, though–many creative directors could fall into the six-figure category, while others might be paid close to or under $50,000. In the end, there isn’t a right or wrong amount to pay your creative director–the right amount depends on your organization and industry. But don’t just take my word for it; make sure you’re quoting a competitive salary based off of what is available in the market.
