My Colorado Journey
Back to pathway map
Creative IndustriesTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Art Director

Formulate 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.

Annual openings

227

Median wage

$99,990

Typical education

Education not reported

Growth 2026–2032

+10%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

Interactive walkthrough

Explore My Colorado Journey Careers

See where to compare pay, job demand, locations, skills, education, and training for a Colorado career.

Open in a new tab

Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Education not reported

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. Leadership experience is also highly valued.

Work-based learning

No information available

This role helps the production create the art that is intended within the overall business of running a production.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerYes
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsNo

Interests it draws on

  • Marketing

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
  2. Present final layouts to clients for approval.
  3. Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
  4. Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
  5. Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
  6. Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
Feedback