Art Directors
Also called: Art Director, Creative Director (CD Director), Creative Services Director, Design DirectorFormulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
On a phone, press and hold a picture to save it to Photos.
opens your phone's share sheet, where you can save both to Photos
What the data says: AI could halve the time on 13 of its 16 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 4.2% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 5.7% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Artists and related workers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 63% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $77,220 | $66,190 to $98,240 | 210 |
| Alaska | $75,200 | $67,230 to $94,250 | 40 |
| Arizona | not published | not published | 450 |
| Arkansas | $71,930 | $62,060 to $82,070 | 240 |
| California | $137,780 | $106,470 to $192,380 | 12,430 |
| Colorado | $99,990 | $81,910 to $123,570 | 720 |
| Connecticut | $71,900 | $69,990 to $130,280 | 1,160 |
| District of Columbia | not published | not published | 310 |
| Florida | $99,660 | $73,680 to $126,200 | 2,520 |
| Georgia | $110,430 | $52,900 to $157,750 | 1,420 |
| Hawaii | $89,300 | $63,090 to $108,780 | 40 |
| Idaho | $80,680 | $78,680 to $80,680 | not published |
| Illinois | $103,550 | $79,820 to $134,680 | 2,960 |
| Indiana | $105,690 | $82,960 to $141,460 | 350 |
| Iowa | $80,940 | $70,770 to $106,910 | 280 |
| Kansas | $60,460 | $57,990 to $96,120 | not published |
| Kentucky | $76,160 | $59,530 to $98,320 | 320 |
| Louisiana | $83,640 | $70,720 to $103,800 | 160 |
| Maine | $100,300 | $70,470 to $138,120 | not published |
| Maryland | $98,400 | $80,470 to $125,440 | 570 |
| Massachusetts | $149,320 | $101,290 to $169,710 | 1,850 |
| Michigan | $86,660 | $65,000 to $121,620 | 1,080 |
| Minnesota | $109,700 | $89,380 to $134,990 | 920 |
| Mississippi | $66,020 | $53,790 to $87,920 | 90 |
| Missouri | $100,940 | $79,030 to $126,360 | 780 |
| Montana | $73,850 | $51,030 to $83,920 | 100 |
| Nebraska | $73,270 | $60,130 to $90,650 | 140 |
| Nevada | $98,070 | $70,130 to $128,170 | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $132,000 | $83,020 to $134,520 | 160 |
| New Jersey | $129,200 | $101,450 to $163,540 | 1,840 |
| New Mexico | not published | not published | 60 |
| New York | $137,320 | $105,750 to $198,330 | 8,720 |
| North Carolina | $90,000 | $82,340 to $99,690 | not published |
| North Dakota | $83,170 | $78,740 to $95,260 | 30 |
| Ohio | $94,390 | $77,570 to $120,430 | 1,050 |
| Oklahoma | $80,680 | $73,900 to $99,990 | 290 |
| Oregon | $133,840 | $103,310 to $185,240 | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,450 | $76,670 to $113,610 | 1,250 |
| Puerto Rico | $57,580 | $46,490 to $64,290 | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $72,550 | $66,250 to $107,810 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $87,990 | $80,090 to $129,040 | 550 |
| South Dakota | $66,610 | $61,060 to $74,660 | 30 |
| Tennessee | $89,860 | $71,590 to $125,590 | 930 |
| Texas | $88,270 | $75,510 to $108,320 | 2,480 |
| Utah | $106,500 | $75,900 to $132,130 | 290 |
| Vermont | $129,260 | $96,270 to $153,890 | 80 |
| Virginia | $101,150 | $83,480 to $125,120 | 670 |
| Washington | $121,170 | $82,790 to $157,140 | 650 |
| West Virginia | $63,550 | $53,150 to $82,490 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $81,130 | $66,240 to $106,260 | 730 |
Nationally: $114,850. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 13 of its 16 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Work with creative directors to develop design solutions. | Not published |
| AI + software | Present final layouts to clients for approval. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound. | 0.02% |
| AI + software | Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members. | Not published |
See all 16 tasks
| AI + software | Review illustrative material to determine if it conforms to standards and specifications. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained. | Not published |
| AI + software | Research current trends and new technology, such as printing production techniques, computer software, and design trends. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques. | 0.03% |
| AI alone | Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements. | Not published |
| Not much | Hire, train, and direct staff members who develop design concepts into art layouts or who prepare layouts for printing. | Not published |
| AI + software | Mark up, paste, and complete layouts and write typography instructions to prepare materials for typesetting or printing. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare detailed storyboards showing sequence and timing of story development for television production. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Conceptualize and help design interfaces for multimedia games, products, and devices. | 0.01% |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 8 of the 16 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 16 tasks fall under 15 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #7 Explain technical details of products or services
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #16 Create artistic designs or performances
- and 5 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Study details of artistic productions | |||
| Coordinate artistic or entertainment activities | |||
| Explain technical details of products or services | |||
| Create artistic designs or performances | |||
| Prepare informational or instructional materials | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Research technology designs or applications |
Show all 15 activities
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Direct scientific or technical activities | |||
| Negotiate contracts or agreements | |||
| Perform recruiting or hiring activities |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report14%
- A design mockup12%
- An app or website5%
- A presentation or slides5%
- A resume or job application5%
How they worked with Claude
63% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for art directors specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 62,777 moves out
- 1 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 12%
- 2 Designers, All Other High +1.2% 5%
- 3 Marketing Managers Very high +6.9% 5%
- 4 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 5%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
Where people moved in from
of 64,569 moves in
- 1 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 16%
- 2 Designers, All Other High +1.2% 6%
- 3 Marketing Managers Very high +6.9% 5%
- 4 Web Developers (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 10% high school
- 6% some college
- 5% associate's
- 68% bachelor's
- 4% post-bachelor's certificate
- 8% master's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 25 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 14% high school
- 16% some college
- 8% associate's
- 44% bachelor's
- 12% master's
- 1% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Artists and related workers” · 3,457 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Artists and related workers”
3 programs: Digital Arts, Graphic Design and Intermedia/Multimedia.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
13.2% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | <0.5% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/27-1011.00