What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Art Directors in the U.S. earn more than $114,850 a year — the middle 80% land between $64,900 and $213,050. About 53,070 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Art Directors”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$114,850typical pay / year
53,070people in this work
$213,050+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Learning1
Develop budgets and timelines
+Set budgets and project timelines for the new fringe theatre advertising campaign, assign contingency line…
Develop budgets and timelines
+Set budgets and project timelines for the new fringe theatre advertising campaign, assign contingency line items, list key milestones tied to rehearsal and tech-week dates, and circulate the budget and Gantt to Lauren in production and Tom in finance by Friday.
The tools that do the workAtlassian JIRAAtlassian Confluencejob descriptionsO*NET
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Make1
Create innovative designs
+Design three concept pathways from the script: sketch bold visual treatments timed to the two key beats, note…
Create innovative designs
+Design three concept pathways from the script: sketch bold visual treatments timed to the two key beats, note staging and cue constraints, pick the strongest solution, and hand the selected concept with rationale to production by Monday morning.
The tools that do the workAdobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record2
Review and approve visual designs
+Run a design approval pass on the visual set: check alignment with the script beats, confirm typography,…
Review and approve visual designs
+Run a design approval pass on the visual set: check alignment with the script beats, confirm typography, color, and accessibility notes, flag any changes, then approve or return edits with annotated comments to the design lead by end of day Thursday.
The tools that do the workAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Shape the visual layout of a concept
+Define the visual layout for the hero concept: block the stage, set focal points for each cue, establish a…
Shape the visual layout of a concept
+Define the visual layout for the hero concept: block the stage, set focal points for each cue, establish a consistent typographic and color hierarchy, create one layered master comp, and deliver it to the art team before the creative review on Wednesday.
The tools that do the workAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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The daily work16
Present final layouts to clients for approval.
+Present the final layouts to Priya and Mark in the client marketing team for approval tomorrow at 11am, walk…
Present final layouts to clients for approval.
+Present the final layouts to Priya and Mark in the client marketing team for approval tomorrow at 11am, walk them through key visual choices, confirm any copy changes, and capture their sign-off or a clear list of revisions before noon.
The tools that do the workAdobe InDesignO*NET
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Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
+Create three custom spot illustrations for the campaign—hero, icon set, and background motif—consistent with…
Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
+Create three custom spot illustrations for the campaign—hero, icon set, and background motif—consistent with the script tone and timing, supply layered source files and export web- and print-ready versions by Friday.
The tools that do the workAdobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorO*NET
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Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.
+Attend the Friday photo shoot at 9am and the press check at 2pm, verify we capture the three hero angles and…
Attend photo shoots and printing sessions to ensure that the products needed are obtained.
+Attend the Friday photo shoot at 9am and the press check at 2pm, verify we capture the three hero angles and the product colour match, approve selects on set, and sign off the final press proofs before the run starts.
The tools that do the workApple macOSO*NET
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Research current trends and new technology, such as printing production techniques, computer software, and design trends.
+Research current printing techniques and design trends this week, summarise three viable production methods…
Research current trends and new technology, such as printing production techniques, computer software, and design trends.
+Research current printing techniques and design trends this week, summarise three viable production methods with pros, cons, and estimated costs, and recommend which to pilot for our next collateral run.
The tools that do the workAtlassian ConfluenceO*NET
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Prepare detailed storyboards showing sequence and timing of story development for television production.
+Prepare a detailed storyboard for the 30‑second TV spot showing sequence, timing cues, camera moves and key…
Prepare detailed storyboards showing sequence and timing of story development for television production.
+Prepare a detailed storyboard for the 30‑second TV spot showing sequence, timing cues, camera moves and key dialogue beats, include thumbnail frames and notes for the director, and deliver the PDF to the production manager by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workAdobe After EffectsAdobe PhotoshopO*NET
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Explore ways the finished piece or scene could look during brainstorming
+Sketch three distinct looks for the finished scene — gritty realist, theatrical expressionist, and…
Explore ways the finished piece or scene could look during brainstorming
+Sketch three distinct looks for the finished scene — gritty realist, theatrical expressionist, and high-contrast stylised — with one mood board per look, sample colour chips, lens and lighting notes, and two quick storyboard frames each by Thursday noon.
The tools that do the workAdobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorWikipedia
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Solidify the collective vision of the project
+Create a single-page creative brief that names the project's visual language, three non-negotiable style…
Solidify the collective vision of the project
+Create a single-page creative brief that names the project's visual language, three non-negotiable style rules, key references, and a one-sentence rationale to take to the producers and cinematographer at Friday's alignment meeting.
The tools that do the workAdobe InDesignWikipedia
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Resolve conflicting ideas and agendas among contributors
+Bring together the writer, production designer, director and lead designer and circulate a short options memo…
Resolve conflicting ideas and agendas among contributors
+Bring together the writer, production designer, director and lead designer and circulate a short options memo that summarises each side's priorities, the trade-offs, and my recommended compromise with two fallback plans before our Tuesday decision call.
The tools that do the workAtlassian ConfluenceAtlassian JIRAWikipedia
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Develop artistic projects
+Draft a project plan for the new short piece that lists the creative phases, deliverables, key collaborators,…
Develop artistic projects
+Draft a project plan for the new short piece that lists the creative phases, deliverables, key collaborators, estimated budgets for design and props, and critical time cues so I can budget and recruit by next Wednesday.
The tools that do the workAtlassian ConfluenceESCO
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Manage the cooperation between all aspects involved
+Set up a collaboration schedule that maps rehearsals, art department syncs, VFX handoffs and post…
Manage the cooperation between all aspects involved
+Set up a collaboration schedule that maps rehearsals, art department syncs, VFX handoffs and post checkpoints, names owners for each touchpoint, and flags three likely pinch points to resolve at the weekly production meeting.
The tools that do the workAtlassian JIRAAtlassian ConfluenceESCO
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Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed.
+Call the lead estimator at Westbrook Press and the production manager at Greyline Printers, outline the job…
Negotiate with printers and estimators to determine what services will be performed.
+Call the lead estimator at Westbrook Press and the production manager at Greyline Printers, outline the job specs, confirm which finishing and proofing services each will perform, ask for written estimates and turnaround times by Thursday noon.
The tools that do the workAdobe InDesignO*NET
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Collaborate with crew to determine set needs
+Gather the set designer, lighting head, and props lead, walk the script pages to list every scenic element,…
Collaborate with crew to determine set needs
+Gather the set designer, lighting head, and props lead, walk the script pages to list every scenic element, decide which items are built in-house versus hired, and produce a prioritized needs list for ordering by Monday.
The tools that do the workApple macOSjob descriptions
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Present work to stakeholders
+Book a 30-minute review with Priya in marketing, James in development, and the executive producer, present…
Present work to stakeholders
+Book a 30-minute review with Priya in marketing, James in development, and the executive producer, present the concept boards and two alternate timelines, collect their top three concerns, and agree next steps and a decision date.
The tools that do the workFacebookjob descriptions
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Refine and review design outputs
+Compare the latest designer files against the brief, mark revisions that affect brand, schedule a single…
Refine and review design outputs
+Compare the latest designer files against the brief, mark revisions that affect brand, schedule a single consolidated pass with the design lead to approve typography and color, then issue a clean version for production.
The tools that do the workAdobe PhotoshopAdobe Illustratorjob descriptions
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Determine when to use motion in visual design
+Review the storyboard and script beats, decide whether motion enhances clarity or distracts, list scenes…
Determine when to use motion in visual design
+Review the storyboard and script beats, decide whether motion enhances clarity or distracts, list scenes where subtle motion should be added and estimate extra timeline and budget, then brief the animation team.
The tools that do the workAdobe After EffectsWikipedia
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Translate desired moods, messages, and concepts into imagery
+Turn the creative brief into three distinct mood boards that show color palettes, sample compositions, and…
Translate desired moods, messages, and concepts into imagery
+Turn the creative brief into three distinct mood boards that show color palettes, sample compositions, and photographic treatments, label each with the intended message and usage, and send them to the copywriter and photographer for feedback by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workAdobe Creative CloudWikipedia
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses