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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Director in New York is $149,916 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.
However, a Design Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Design Director Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $163,700 | $13,642 | $3,148 | $79 |
| Average | $149,916 | $12,493 | $2,883 | $72 |
| 25th Percentile | $130,678 | $10,890 | $2,513 | $63 |
HUSH - New York, NY
IHL Group - New York, NY
jobr.pro - New York City, NY
Disguise Technologies Ltd - New York, NY
A Design 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 Design 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 Design 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, Design Director positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Design Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $239,866 | $115.0 | 60% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $224,874 | $108.0 | 50% |
| Healthcare | $202,387 | $97.0 | 35% |
| Biotechnology | $194,891 | $94.0 | 30% |
| Media | $187,395 | $90.0 | 25% |
Understanding how a Design 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 | $163,700 | $13,642 | $3,148 | $79 |
| Average | $149,916 | $12,493 | $2,883 | $72 |
| 25th Percentile | $130,678 | $10,890 | $2,513 | $63 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Design Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Marc Jacobs
New York, NY
Marc Jacobs | New York, NY
Job Description. Job Description. OVERVIEW. Marc Jacobs International, powered by the creative genius of Marc Jacobs, seeks a. Design Director - Leathergoo... more
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New York, NY
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Job Description. Job Description. Hi, we're Oscar. We're hiring a Director of Product, Claims Design to join our Product Management team. Oscar is the firs... more
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Rag & Bone
New York, NY
Rag & Bone | New York, NY
Job Description. Job Description. Overview. rag & bone is seeking a Design Director to lead Men’s Denim and some of the White Label driving the evolution o... more
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Monigle Associates Inc
New York, NY
Monigle Associates Inc | New York, NY
Job Description. Job Description. At Monigle, we humanize brands to move people. We are the largest independent brand-focused agency in the country, with o... more
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Miro
New York, NY
Miro | New York, NY
About The Team. Design at Miro sits at the heart of how millions of people experience collaboration. Our product design team works across the full breadth ... more
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Rag & Bone
New York, NY
Rag & Bone | New York, NY
Job Description. Job Description. About rag & bone. From our origins in New York in 2002, rag & bone was founded on a belief of uncompromising ideals: a co... more
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