Art Directors pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $151,070 or more. The middle half of art directors in Louisville earn between $61,270 and $121,940.
- $50K10th
- $61K25th
- $88KMedian
- $122K75th
- $151K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,010 | $7,668 | $44.24 |
| Median | $87,570 | $7,298 | $42.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,270 | $5,106 | $29.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,940 | $10,162 | $58.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Art directors in Louisville earn 14% more than the Kentucky average ($80,360) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $92,010 | $87,570 | $50,180 | $151,070 | 130 |
| Kentucky | $80,360 | $76,160 | $42,990 | $121,940 | 320 |
| United States | $129,440 | $114,850 | $64,900 | $213,050 | 53,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Art Directors salary after taxes in Louisville
On the average salary of $92,010, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $68,432 a year, or $5,703 a month and $2,632 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $70,829 | $5,902 |
| Working in KY | $68,432 | $5,703 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $92,010 buys what about $98,857 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Louisville$92,010
- Lexington$80,730
Highest-paying cities for art directors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,620).
- San Jose, CA$182,620
- San Francisco, CA$169,940
- New York, NY$161,120
- Portland, OR$158,630
- Los Angeles, CA$156,680
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Art Directors salary in Louisville: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Louisville?
$44.24 an hour on average, and $42.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Louisville?
About $68,432 a year ($5,703 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,010. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do art directors earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less than the U.S. average for this job ($129,440).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1011; area Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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