Art Directors pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $177,830 or more. The middle half of art directors in Buffalo earn between $62,020 and $122,040.
- $53K10th
- $62K25th
- $96KMedian
- $122K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,220 | $8,602 | $49.62 |
| Median | $95,770 | $7,981 | $46.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,020 | $5,168 | $29.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $122,040 | $10,170 | $58.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Art directors in Buffalo earn 35% less than the New York average ($159,200) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $103,220 | $95,770 | $52,960 | $177,830 | 140 |
| New York | $159,200 | $137,320 | $80,060 | $280,320 | 8,720 |
| 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 Buffalo
On the average salary of $103,220, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $76,300 a year, or $6,358 a month and $2,935 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $103,220 buys what about $107,696 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 6th of 6 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($161,120).
- New York$161,120
- Syracuse$125,230
- Kiryas Joel$122,050
- Rochester$116,390
- Albany$116,140
- Buffalo$103,220
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 Buffalo: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Buffalo?
$49.62 an hour on average, and $46.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $76,300 a year ($6,358 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,220. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do art directors earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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