| Quick Facts: Art Directors | |
|---|---|
| 2012 Median Pay | $80,880 per year $38.88 per hour |
| Entry-Level Education | Bachelor’s degree |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation | 5 years or more |
| On-the-job Training | None |
| Number of Jobs, 2012 | 74,800 |
| Job Outlook, 2012-22 | 3% (Slower than average) |
| Employment Change, 2012-22 | 2,200 |
What Art Directors Do
Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. They create the overall design of a project and direct others who develop artwork and layouts.
Work Environment
About 15 percent of art directors worked for advertising and public relations firms in 2012. Others worked for newspaper and magazine publishers, specialized design services firms, and motion picture and video industries.
How to Become an Art Director
Art directors need at least a bachelor’s degree in an art or design subject and previous work experience. Depending on the industry, they may have worked as graphic designers, illustrators, copy editors, or photographers, or in another art or design occupation before becoming art directors.
Pay
The median annual wage for art directors was $80,880 in May 2012.
Job Outlook
Employment of art directors is projected to grow 3 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. Art directors will continue to be needed to oversee the work of graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, and others who design artwork and layouts.
