Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Creative Art Director in Illinois is $145,818 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $70.
However, a Creative Art Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Smart Recruiting
Creative Art Director Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $159,225 | $13,269 | $3,062 | $77 |
| Average | $145,818 | $12,152 | $2,804 | $70 |
| 25th Percentile | $127,106 | $10,592 | $2,444 | $61 |
Geronimo Hospitality Group - South Beloit, IL
Smartly - Chicago, IL
Bully Pulpit International - Chicago, IL
Bully Pulpit International - Chicago, IL
A Creative Art Director'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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 Creative Art Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Creative Art Director 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, Creative Art Director positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Creative Art Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $233,309 | $112.0 | 60% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $218,727 | $105.0 | 50% |
| Healthcare | $196,854 | $95.0 | 35% |
| Biotechnology | $189,563 | $91.0 | 30% |
| Media | $182,273 | $88.0 | 25% |
Understanding how a Creative Art Director'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $159,225 | $13,269 | $3,062 | $77 |
| Average | $145,818 | $12,152 | $2,804 | $70 |
| 25th Percentile | $127,106 | $10,592 | $2,444 | $61 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Creative Art Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
EVERSANA INTOUCH
Chicago, IL
EVERSANA INTOUCH | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Company Description. EVERSANA INTOUCH® is a global, full-service marketing agency network serving the life sciences indus... more
6 Days Ago
EVERSANA INTOUCH
Chicago, IL
EVERSANA INTOUCH | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Company Description. EVERSANA INTOUCH® is a global, full-service marketing agency network serving the life sciences indus... more
8 Days Ago
NielsenIQ
Chicago, IL
NielsenIQ | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Company Description. R26_0019106. Location: Remote in US #LI-Remote. Job Description. About this job. We are building a ... more
6 Days Ago
Huron Consulting Group Inc.
Chicago, IL
Huron Consulting Group Inc. | Chicago, IL
Associate Creative Director, Corporate Marketing, Remote page is loaded## Associate Creative Director, Corporate Marketing, Remoteremote type :Remotelocati... more
10 Days Ago
Experlogix Inc
Chicago, IL
Experlogix Inc | Chicago, IL
Role SummaryWorking remotely from the US or Canada, we are seeking an exceptional Director of Web and Creative to lead the transformation of our company's ... more
10 Days Ago
Surface Experts
Naperville, IL
Surface Experts | Naperville, IL
Surface Experts Field Repair Technician. Full Time, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm, Pay based on Experience, plus Monthly Bonus's, No Weekends, Paid Vacation, Paid... more
9 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
