SalaryExplorer

SOC 27-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Art DirectorsColumbus

Columbus, OH · 4 metro areas compared

$101,990 /year
$49.03per hour
250jobs in area
11.2%vs US median

Median pay for this occupation in Columbus, OH is $101,990 a year, trailing the national median of $114,850 by 11.2%.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $114,85010TH$67,03025TH$81,250MEDIAN$101,99075TH$126,66090TH$158,290

Salary overview

Median pay for this occupation in Columbus, OH is $101,990 a year, trailing the national median of $114,850 by 11.2%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $81,250 and $126,660. The lowest tenth earn under $67,030, while the highest tenth earn more than $158,290.

The area has 250 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Cincinnati records the highest median at $97,360. Of the 611 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 80th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Columbus, OH · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$67,030−41.6%
25th$81,250−29.3%
Median (50th)$101,990−11.2%
75th$126,660+10.3%
90th$158,290+37.8%
Mean$106,430−7.3%

Other metro areas in Ohio

Median annual wage for Art Directors, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Cincinnati$97,360320
2Cleveland$95,420180
3Dayton$89,52050
4Akron$85,63050

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Columbus run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $101,990 goes as far as $109,903 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.3% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$101,990as reported by BLS

Local price level

92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$109,903US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $101,990 a year, 11.2% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $67,030 to $158,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 250 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Cincinnati, at $97,360.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Art Directors in Columbus, OH?

The median annual wage is $101,990, or $49.03 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $114,850, so pay in Columbus, OH is 11.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in Columbus, OH earns more than $158,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $67,030 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Cincinnati, at $97,360 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 250 jobs in this occupation in Columbus, OH. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Art Directors Salary in Columbus, OH (2025): $101,990 Median | Salary Explorer