Art Directors pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $155,820 or more. The middle half of art directors in Wilmington earn between $72,290 and $112,280.
- $39K10th
- $72K25th
- $85KMedian
- $112K75th
- $156K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,870 | $7,656 | $44.17 |
| Median | $84,730 | $7,061 | $40.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,290 | $6,024 | $34.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,280 | $9,357 | $53.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Art Directors pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Art directors in Wilmington earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($95,460) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($129,440). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $114,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $91,870 | $84,730 | $39,160 | $155,820 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $95,460 | $90,000 | $56,460 | $142,740 | n/a |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $91,870, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $70,304 a year, or $5,859 a month and $2,704 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for art directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $91,870 buys what about $95,279 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Art Directors salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 5th of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($113,550).
- Raleigh$113,550
- Greensboro$100,380
- Charlotte$97,260
- Durham$95,580
- Wilmington$91,870
- Winston-Salem$90,800
- Asheville$74,360
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do art directors make an hour in Wilmington?
$44.17 an hour on average, and $40.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level art directors salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the art directors take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $70,304 a year ($5,859 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,870.
Do art directors earn more in Wilmington 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- 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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