Art Directors pay range in Ann Arbor
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $177,400 or more. The middle half of art directors in Ann Arbor earn between $64,390 and $137,450.
- $56K10th
- $64K25th
- $102KMedian
- $137K75th
- $177K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,420 | $8,868 | $51.16 |
| Median | $101,880 | $8,490 | $48.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,390 | $5,366 | $30.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $137,450 | $11,454 | $66.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Ann Arbor vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Art directors in Ann Arbor earn 9% more than the Michigan average ($98,020) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $106,420 | $101,880 | $56,430 | $177,400 | 40 |
| Michigan | $98,020 | $86,660 | $54,590 | $166,880 | 1,080 |
| 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 Ann Arbor
On the average salary of $106,420, a single filer in Ann Arbor takes home about $79,420 a year, or $6,618 a month and $3,055 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Ann Arbor a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Ann Arbor area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $106,420 buys what about $105,492 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Ann Arbor ($55,380). A typical home costs $422,945, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other Michigan cities
Ann Arbor ranks 1st of 4 Michigan metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Ann Arbor$106,420
- Detroit$103,310
- Lansing$94,810
- Grand Rapids$93,820
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 Ann Arbor: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Ann Arbor?
$51.16 an hour on average, and $48.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Ann Arbor?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Ann Arbor?
About $79,420 a year ($6,618 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,420.
Do art directors earn more in Ann Arbor than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Ann Arbor, MI (11460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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