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Associate Art Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group is seeking an Associate Art Director to join our 1C team, designing covers and interiors for fiction and non-fiction chapter book, middle grade, and young adult ...

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group is seeking an Associate Art Director to join our 1C team, designing covers and interiors for fiction and non-fiction chapter book, middle grade, and young adult ...

Art Director Sr

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

$30 - $39/hr

If Sr. Art Director sounds like something you are interested in, and you meet the qualifications ... In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other ...

Art Director

Saint Louis, MO

$113K - $118K/yr

Join our dynamic and thriving footwear company as an Art Director in St. Louis, MO where you'll ... No matter your style, we've got your perfect fit covered with a 30% Associate Discount across ...

Art Director

Clayton, MO · On-site

$113K - $118K/yr

Join our dynamic and thriving footwear company as an Art Director in St. Louis, MO where you'll ... No matter your style, we've got your perfect fit covered with a 30% Associate Discount across ...

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Associate Art Director information

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$49K

$108K

$169.5K

How much do associate art director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate art director in the United States is $108,028.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,500.00 and $137,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Are associate art directors paid well?

Associate art directors typically earn competitive salaries that vary by industry, location, and experience. In general, they earn more than entry-level roles and often have opportunities for salary growth with additional skills in design, branding, and project management.

What do associate art directors do?

An associate art director assists the lead art director in developing visual concepts for projects, overseeing design teams, and ensuring creative standards are met. They often collaborate with other departments, use design software like Adobe Creative Suite, and have strong skills in visual communication and project management.

Is there a demand for associate art directors?

The demand for associate art directors remains steady, especially in advertising, media, and entertainment industries, where strong design skills and proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite are valued. Employment growth is expected to align with overall creative industry trends, with opportunities available for those with experience in visual storytelling and project management.

What is the difference between Associate Art Director vs Art Director?

AspectAssociate Art DirectorArt Director
ResponsibilitiesSupports the art department, assists in design concepts, and manages specific projectsLeads the creative vision, oversees the entire art team, and makes high-level design decisions
Required CredentialsTypically a bachelor's degree in art, design, or related field; relevant experienceSimilar educational background; extensive experience in art and design leadership
Work EnvironmentCollaborates closely with art teams, reports to Art DirectorLeads creative teams, interacts with clients and senior management

In summary, an Associate Art Director supports and assists the Art Director in executing creative projects, focusing on specific tasks and projects. The Art Director holds the overall creative leadership, guiding the vision and managing the art team. Both roles require similar credentials and work environments, but differ mainly in scope and responsibility.

What is an associate art director?

An Associate Art Director is a creative professional who supports the Art Director in overseeing the visual aspects of a project, such as advertising campaigns, magazines, films, or video games. They help conceptualize and execute design ideas, manage graphic designers and artists, and ensure that the visual style aligns with the project's goals. Associate Art Directors often collaborate with other departments, work on layouts, and provide feedback to the creative team. This role serves as a bridge between junior designers and senior creative leadership, helping maintain consistency and quality across all visual outputs.

How does an associate art director typically collaborate with other creative team members during a project?

As an Associate Art Director, you play a key role in bridging communication between the creative team—including designers, copywriters, photographers, and senior art directors. You are often responsible for interpreting the creative vision and ensuring consistency across deliverables, providing feedback, and helping to resolve any creative conflicts that arise. You’ll regularly attend brainstorming sessions, review drafts, and coordinate with project managers to keep everything on schedule. Strong collaboration and communication skills are essential for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate art director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Art Director, you need a strong background in visual design, art direction, and creative strategy, typically supported by a relevant degree and portfolio of work. Proficiency with industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and familiarity with project management tools are essential. Excellent communication, leadership, and collaboration skills help you guide creative teams and articulate visual concepts effectively. These abilities ensure that creative projects are executed cohesively, on-brand, and within deadlines.
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Infographic showing various Associate Art Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,028 per year, or $51.9 per hour.

Associate Art Director, Union Square & Co.

Hachette Book Group

New York, NY • On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Hachette Book Group rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 19 rated publishing


Job description

Union Square & Co. is seeking a highly organized, motivated, and creative Associate Art Director to join our team. As an integral part of our group, this person will carry each project through the design process, including conception, execution, approval, and transmitting files to Production. They should have extensive experience in book cover design and feel comfortable focusing on a range of genres. The Associate Art Director will personally manage 3 designers and will report to the Art Director, Adult Books.

Duties include:

Conceptualizes and generates creative and innovative cover designs for UNSQ's Adult list, including Classics, and select Gift titles

Works closely with the Art Director to maintain the highest quality of design and production standards while keeping on track with deadlines

Manages and advises small group of Senior and Junior level designers

Collaborates closely with editorial team to develop thoughtful, market-appropriate designs

Oversees all stages of preparation including prepress, color correction, setting print-ready files up for special effects, and proof review.

Maintains ongoing communications and schedules with the Editorial and Production departments to ensure timely execution and follow through from manuscript to bound book for all projects

Researches and oversees freelance illustrators and designers when required

Ensures that designs fulfill UNSQ's high standards, represent the brand in the market, and push the envelope in both concept and execution

Attends weekly status and design meetings

Stays abreast of changes in publishing industry, design trends, and new techniques that will improve the efficiency and creativity

Minimum requirements:

4-year college degree preferably in Graphic Design, or equivalent work experience

Minimum 5-7 years design experience in book publishing

Proficient in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat

Extensive experience designing book covers

Experience hiring and overseeing illustrators, negotiating rates, and rights usage

Detailed knowledge of pre-press requirements for print: manufacturing process, proofing, and color correction

Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and portfolio to be considered for this position.

This role is based in our New York office. Employees are expected to work on-site three days per week in accordance with our hybrid work model. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to the office.

The compensation for this position is $75,000-$85,000. Salary can vary based on a number of factors including skills, experience, and location - talk with your recruiter to learn more. There may be times that you will be required (or requested) to work overtime due to the nature of your role or exceptional workload issues or special projects.

As a leading book publisher, we believe that including and representing diverse voices in all aspects of our business is fundamental to what we do. Our publishing programs must reflect the broad range of backgrounds, experiences, political views and ideas that shape our society and publish books for all readers.

Hachette Book Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The following benefits are offered by the company: medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life, short-term and long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, hospital indemnity, long-term care, health and dependent care FSA, commuter benefit plan, employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, travel assistance, 401(k), discretionary bonus program, PTO (15 vacation days, 3 personal days, 10 holidays and generous sick leave) and group discounts on auto and home insurance and legal services. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification, hours worked and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms.

Mission Statement

Union Square & Co. publishes books and gift products with a point of view. What distinguishes us is our independent, entrepreneurial spirit. We collaborate with bestselling, award-winning, and debut authors and creatives to publish at the highest quality across categories. We strive to bring you entertainment, discovery, and fun through objects you can cherish.

Employment Type: Full-Time

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