Associate Creative Director - Design Salary in the United States

How much does an Associate Creative Director - Design make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Creative Director - Design in the United States is $150,793 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.

However, an Associate Creative Director - Design's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $179,404
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $134,890 to $165,769
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $120,411
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View as table View as graph 25% $134,890 10% $120,411 90% $179,404 75% $165,769 $150,793 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Creative Director - Design Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $165,769 $13,814 $3,188 $80
Average $150,793 $12,566 $2,900 $72
25th Percentile $134,890 $11,241 $2,594 $65
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Key Factors That Influence Associate Creative Director - Design Salaries

An Associate Creative Director - Design's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Associate Creative Director - Design Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Associate Creative Director - Designs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $166,958.
  • California: $166,325.
  • Massachusetts: $164,108.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Creative Director - Designs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $190,195
  • San Francisco: $188,113
  • Oakland: $184,148

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Creative Director - Design's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.35% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Photoshop (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): Photoshop is an image creation, graphic design and photo editing software developed by Adobe. It is used to demonstrate knowledge of image resolution, image size, and image file format for web, video, and print.
  • Digital Design (Mentioned in 1.43% Job Postings): Ability to use tools and software to create and present information or a product through a digital interface.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.35%
Photoshop 2.33%
Digital Design 1.43%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Associate Creative Director - Design's salary.
  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • UI: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Partnering
 $156,825
4%
UI
 $155,317
3%
Insight
 $155,317
3%
Leadership
 $153,809
2%
Client Relationship
 $153,809
2%
Collaboration
 $153,809
2%
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Associate Creative Director - Design Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Associate Creative Director - Design roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 125% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Associate Creative Director - Design positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Creative Director - Design as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Associate Creative Director - Design

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$241,269$116.060%
Aerospace & Defense$226,190$109.050%
Healthcare$203,571$98.035%
Biotechnology$196,031$94.030%
Media$188,491$91.025%

How Education impacts an Associate Creative Director - Design's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Associate Creative Director - Designs enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Associate Creative Director - Design with a Bachelor's Degree is between $140,454 and $152,511).

Associate Creative Director - Design Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Creative Director - Design
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 6.0%
Associates 8.1%
Bachelors 67.9%
Masters 16.7%
Doctorate 0.6%
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Associate Creative Director - Design Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Creative Director - Design's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$134,890
Average $150,793/year
$165,769
$11,241
Average $12,566/month
$13,814
$2,594
Average $2,900/week
$3,188
$65
Average $72/hour
$80
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $165,769 $13,814 $3,188 $80
Average $150,793 $12,566 $2,900 $72
25th Percentile $134,890 $11,241 $2,594 $65

Salaries of jobs related to Associate Creative Director - Design

Salary Trends for Associate Creative Director - Design

Salaries for an Associate Creative Director - Design can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $135,918 in 2023 to around $129,714 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Associate Creative Director - Design salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Associate Creative Director - Design Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$135,918
2024
$132,701
2025
$129,714
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $135,918
2024 $132,701
2025 $129,714
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Associate Creative Director - Design

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Associate Creative Director - Design

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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