Creative Director Jobs in California

Creative Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in advertising, entertainment, tech, and consumer brands, with openings at every level from associate creative director through executive creative director. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the largest hiring metros, anchored by established employers like Disney, Apple, and Ogilvy. In-demand specializations include brand identity, UX and digital creative, and integrated campaign leadership. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles90
Top employerMeta
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring30
Work type46% Hybrid
Top industryStaffing

Showing 5 of 90+ Creative Director jobs

Creative Director, Stage 31 AFX
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Added 3d ago
Creative Director, Stage 31 AFX
Warner Bros. Discovery
Burbank, California
Content & Communications
Creative & Design
Multimedia Production
$158k - $293k/yr
10,000+

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Creative Director
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Added 3d ago
Creative Director
Fellow
San Francisco, California
Growth Marketing
Marketing
Product Marketing
$185k - $200k/yr
Hybrid

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Creative Director
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Added 4d ago
Creative Director
Los Angeles County Museum Of natural History Foundation
Los Angeles, California
Business Development
Events & Tourism
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project Management
$167k - $180k/yr
Bachelor of Fine Arts

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Creative Director, A/V - Apple TV Marketing
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Added 4d ago
Creative Director, A/V - Apple TV Marketing
Apple
Culver City, California
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project Management
$177k - $266k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Creative Director
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Added 5d ago
Creative Director
Amazon.com
Santa Monica, California
Creative & Design
Content & Communications
Project & Program Management
Creative Direction
Content Marketing
$141k - $191k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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See All 90 Creative Director Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Creative Director Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Diego
4 jobs
Menlo Park
4 jobs
Santa Monica
4 jobs
Culver City
3 jobs
Burlingame
2 jobs
Santa Clara
2 jobs
Beverly Hills
2 jobs

Creative Director Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Meta5 open roles
Amazon5 open roles
Apple4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Staffing & Recruiting
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Distribution & Wholesale
  • Retail

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in creative director jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in graphic design, advertising, fine arts, or a related creative field
  • Ten or more years of progressive creative experience with at least three in a leadership role
  • Demonstrated portfolio showing brand campaigns, digital creative, or integrated marketing work
  • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and current digital production workflows
  • Experience managing and mentoring creative teams across multiple concurrent projects
  • Strong client-facing presentation skills and ability to translate briefs into creative strategy

Creative Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a creative director in California?

Creative directors in California do not require a state-issued license or government credential. The standard path is a bachelor's degree in graphic design, advertising, communications, or fine arts followed by years of hands-on creative work building toward a leadership role. California employers, especially in Los Angeles and San Francisco, place heavy weight on portfolio strength, experience directing teams, and familiarity with brand, digital, and entertainment-driven creative output.

How much do creative directors make in California?

Creative directors in California earn a median of about $137,780 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $81,500 for the lowest 10% to over $249,210 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire creative directors in California?

Employers hiring creative directors in California right now include Meta, Amazon, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of entertainment studios, major tech companies, and global consumer brands means demand for creative leadership is consistent across both agency and in-house environments.

Which California cities have the most creative director jobs?

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego have the most creative director openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its density of entertainment studios, advertising agencies, and consumer brand headquarters, while San Francisco and San Jose reflect demand from major tech companies and venture-backed startups that build large in-house creative teams.

Are there remote creative director jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 63% of creative director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on strategy, concepting, and digital production rather than physical presence. Campaign and brand creative roles tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions tied to photo or video production typically require on-site time.

How can I get hired as a creative director in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is landing an art director or senior designer role at a California agency or in-house team and building toward creative leadership from there. Large California employers in entertainment and tech, including studios and Silicon Valley companies, run associate creative programs and rotational design roles that are accessible without a full leadership background. A focused portfolio and experience in brand or digital creative will matter more than years of experience at this stage.

Where can I find and apply to creative director jobs in California?

You can find and apply to creative director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly.

See All 90 Creative Director Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Creative Director Jobs