Arts, Design, Media & Sports
Art Directors
Also called: Art Director, Art Supervisor, Creative Director (CD Director), Creative Manager
US median pay
$114,850
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4.2%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
12,200
140,200 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
What they do day to day
- Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- Present final layouts to clients for approval.
- Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
- Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
- Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
- Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
- Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
- Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
- Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.
- Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Time Management3.6/5
- Coordination3.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Persuasion3.4/5
- Operations Analysis3.4/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.2/5
- Instructing3.1/5
Knowledge
- Design4.3/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Computers and Electronics4.2/5
- Fine Arts4.2/5
- Communications and Media4.1/5
- Sales and Marketing3.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree68%
Who this job suits
Mostly Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.