27 Series · SOC 27-2012

Producers and Directors Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$90,360
Median / year
$198,540
Top 10% earn
+4.9%
Growth '23–'33
143,120
US workers

Producers and Directors earn a median of $90,360 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $90,360, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $45,780 (10th percentile) to $198,540 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 143,120 US workers. California pays the most ($129,790), since pay varies by state and metro area.

27 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Producers and Directors earn a median of $90,360, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 78% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks #4 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% by 2033.

$90,360
Median annual wage
Top 22%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#4 of 36
in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
4.3×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $129,790. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012) pays a national median of $90,360 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $45,780 at the 10th percentile to $198,540 at the 90th, with a mean of $113,300 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 143,120 Americans work in this occupation across 51 reporting states and 257 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 12,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $129,790, which is +44% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $131,600 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 143,120 jobs Median $90,360/yr

Median Salary

$90,360

per year

Median Hourly

$43.44/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$113,300

average

Employment

143,120

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Producers and Directors pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$90,360 Top 22% higher than 78% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 27-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Producers and Directors; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 27-series occupations with growth data, Producers and Directors sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $90,360 median pay.

Among 24 27-series occupations with growth data, Producers and Directors sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $90,360 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 27-series occupations with growth data, Producers and Directors sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $90,360 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+4.9%

About average

Annual Openings

12,800

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Work Experience

Less than 5 years

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

0.6/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

2.3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Producers and Directors roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Monitoring 4.0
Coordination 4.0
Critical Thinking 3.9
Reading Comprehension 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Complex Problem Solving 3.5
Time Management 3.5
Writing 3.4

Knowledge Areas

Communications and Media 4.8
Computers and Electronics 4.3
English Language 4.1
Telecommunications 3.8
Engineering and Technology 3.6
Administration and Management 3.3
Customer and Personal Service 3.1
Education and Training 2.9
Production and Processing 2.8
Geography 2.7

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Direct technical aspects of newscasts and other productions, checking and switching between video sources and taking responsibility for the on-air product, including camera shots and graphics.
  • ▸ Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
  • ▸ Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
  • ▸ Follow instructions from production managers and directors during productions, such as commands for camera cuts, effects, graphics, and takes.
  • ▸ Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
  • ▸ Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
  • ▸ Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
  • ▸ Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
  • ▸ Prepare actors for auditions by providing scripts and information about roles and casting requirements.
  • ▸ Select performers for roles or submit lists of suitable performers to producers or directors for final selection.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$45,780$62,670$90,360$134,800$198,540
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$22.01$30.13$43.44$64.81$95.45
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$45,780

25th Percentile

$62,670

Median

$90,360

75th Percentile

$134,800

90th Percentile

$198,540

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. California $129,790 2. New Jersey $119,840 3. New York $107,550 4. District of Columbia $104,270 5. Connecticut $88,260

Lowest Paying States

47. Arkansas $38,820 48. West Virginia $46,660 49. Mississippi $48,100 50. Puerto Rico $48,820 51. Nebraska $52,580
View all 51 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $129,790 +44% above national
2 New Jersey $119,840 +33% above national
3 New York $107,550 +19% above national
4 District of Columbia $104,270 +15% above national
5 Connecticut $88,260 2% below national
6 Oregon $87,460 3% below national
7 Rhode Island $84,250 7% below national
8 Washington $81,550 10% below national
9 Illinois $81,080 10% below national
10 Massachusetts $80,970 10% below national
11 Georgia $79,950 12% below national
12 Florida $79,920 12% below national
13 Maryland $79,350 12% below national
14 Nevada $78,480 13% below national
15 Colorado $78,060 14% below national
16 Minnesota $76,360 15% below national
17 Utah $76,350 16% below national
18 Pennsylvania $75,460 16% below national
19 Tennessee $73,020 19% below national
20 Delaware $72,650 20% below national
21 Texas $71,710 21% below national
22 Maine $71,320 21% below national
23 Ohio $69,350 23% below national
24 Arizona $67,320 25% below national
25 Missouri $66,460 26% below national
26 Wisconsin $66,390 27% below national
27 Hawaii $66,190 27% below national
28 Virginia $65,900 27% below national
29 Michigan $65,720 27% below national
30 North Carolina $63,700 30% below national
31 Alabama $63,340 30% below national
32 Louisiana $62,920 30% below national
33 Oklahoma $61,600 32% below national
34 New Hampshire $61,560 32% below national
35 Idaho $61,150 32% below national
36 Kansas $60,600 33% below national
37 Wyoming $60,420 33% below national
38 South Dakota $60,260 33% below national
39 Indiana $59,870 34% below national
40 Iowa $58,550 35% below national
41 North Dakota $57,870 36% below national
42 South Carolina $56,030 38% below national
43 Vermont $55,660 38% below national
44 Kentucky $54,550 40% below national
45 Alaska $54,060 40% below national
46 Montana $52,580 42% below national
47 Nebraska $52,580 42% below national
48 Puerto Rico $48,820 46% below national
49 Mississippi $48,100 47% below national
50 West Virginia $46,660 48% below national
51 Arkansas $38,820 57% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $131,600 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $130,640 3. Trenton-Princeton, NJ $110,190 4. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $108,460 5. Waterbury-Shelton, CT $102,340

Lowest Paying Metros

253. North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $24,960 254. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $35,860 255. Fort Smith, AR-OK $37,560 256. La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $37,590 257. Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $40,390
View all 257 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $131,600 +46% above national
2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $130,640 +45% above national
3 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $110,190 +22% above national
4 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $108,460 +20% above national
5 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $102,340 +13% above national
6 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $100,270 +11% above national
7 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $100,060 +11% above national
8 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $99,520 +10% above national
9 Salem, OR $98,900 +9% above national
10 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $97,360 +8% above national
11 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $92,510 +2% above national
12 Bellingham, WA $92,220 +2% above national
13 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $89,390 1% below national
14 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $88,450 2% below national
15 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $87,980 3% below national
16 Vallejo, CA $87,910 3% below national
17 Salinas, CA $87,900 3% below national
18 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $86,680 4% below national
19 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $85,040 6% below national
20 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $83,850 7% below national
21 Rochester, NY $83,030 8% below national
22 St. Louis, MO-IL $82,750 8% below national
23 Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $82,750 8% below national
24 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $82,440 9% below national
25 Boulder, CO $81,500 10% below national
26 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $80,960 10% below national
27 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $80,850 11% below national
28 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $80,590 11% below national
29 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $79,970 11% below national
30 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $79,950 12% below national
31 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $79,700 12% below national
32 Syracuse, NY $79,680 12% below national
33 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $79,590 12% below national
34 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $79,520 12% below national
35 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $79,450 12% below national
36 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $79,070 12% below national
37 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $78,810 13% below national
38 Fresno, CA $78,730 13% below national
39 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $78,660 13% below national
40 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $78,530 13% below national
41 Jacksonville, FL $78,340 13% below national
42 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $78,050 14% below national
43 New Haven, CT $77,790 14% below national
44 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $77,530 14% below national
45 Medford, OR $77,350 14% below national
46 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $77,260 14% below national
47 Columbus, OH $76,930 15% below national
48 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $76,860 15% below national
49 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $76,290 16% below national
50 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $74,980 17% below national
51 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $74,850 17% below national
52 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $74,810 17% below national
53 North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $74,660 17% below national
54 Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area $74,540 18% below national
55 Kingston, NY $74,520 18% below national
56 Eugene-Springfield, OR $74,110 18% below national
57 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $73,280 19% below national
58 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $72,740 19% below national
59 Rochester, MN $72,580 20% below national
60 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $72,490 20% below national
61 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $72,350 20% below national
62 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $72,280 20% below national
63 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $72,000 20% below national
64 Altoona, PA $71,940 20% below national
65 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $71,500 21% below national
66 Youngstown-Warren, OH $71,400 21% below national
67 Cleveland, OH $71,160 21% below national
68 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $71,030 21% below national
69 Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $70,750 22% below national
70 Gainesville, FL $70,470 22% below national
71 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $69,820 23% below national
72 Worcester, MA $69,270 23% below national
73 Auburn-Opelika, AL $69,170 23% below national
74 Madison, WI $68,350 24% below national
75 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $67,780 25% below national
76 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $67,620 25% below national
77 Ann Arbor, MI $67,600 25% below national
78 Raleigh-Cary, NC $67,460 25% below national
79 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $67,230 26% below national
80 Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $66,520 26% below national
81 Kansas City, MO-KS $66,470 26% below national
82 Champaign-Urbana, IL $66,420 26% below national
83 Oklahoma City, OK $66,130 27% below national
84 Birmingham, AL $66,110 27% below national
85 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $65,940 27% below national
86 Tallahassee, FL $65,930 27% below national
87 Pittsburgh, PA $65,640 27% below national
88 Urban Honolulu, HI $65,450 28% below national
89 Ithaca, NY $65,410 28% below national
90 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $65,210 28% below national
91 Montgomery, AL $65,130 28% below national
92 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $64,990 28% below national
93 Santa Fe, NM $64,990 28% below national
94 Bozeman, MT $64,710 28% below national
95 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $64,660 28% below national
96 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $64,550 29% below national
97 Tucson, AZ $64,530 29% below national
98 Colorado Springs, CO $64,380 29% below national
99 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $64,230 29% below national
100 Baton Rouge, LA $64,120 29% below national
101 Lancaster, PA $64,010 29% below national
102 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $63,950 29% below national
103 Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $63,910 29% below national
104 Barnstable Town, MA $63,780 29% below national
105 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $63,320 30% below national
106 Akron, OH $63,260 30% below national
107 Iowa City, IA $63,090 30% below national
108 Portland-South Portland, ME $63,090 30% below national
109 High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area $63,040 30% below national
110 Redding, CA $63,010 30% below national
111 Asheville, NC $62,880 30% below national
112 Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $62,800 31% below national
113 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $62,780 31% below national
114 Fayetteville, NC $62,760 31% below national
115 Reno, NV $62,720 31% below national
116 Manchester-Nashua, NH $62,530 31% below national
117 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $62,470 31% below national
118 Greensboro-High Point, NC $62,400 31% below national
119 West Montana nonmetropolitan area $62,400 31% below national
120 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $62,370 31% below national
121 Utica-Rome, NY $62,310 31% below national
122 Toledo, OH $62,220 31% below national
123 Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $62,190 31% below national
124 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $62,160 31% below national
125 Green Bay, WI $62,040 31% below national
126 Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $62,040 31% below national
127 Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $61,970 31% below national
128 Tuscaloosa, AL $61,830 32% below national
129 Chattanooga, TN-GA $61,660 32% below national
130 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $61,660 32% below national
131 Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $61,540 32% below national
132 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $61,430 32% below national
133 Huntsville, AL $61,400 32% below national
134 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $61,350 32% below national
135 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $61,280 32% below national
136 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $61,220 32% below national
137 Bend, OR $61,140 32% below national
138 Wilmington, NC $61,120 32% below national
139 Savannah, GA $61,090 32% below national
140 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $61,090 32% below national
141 State College, PA $61,070 32% below national
142 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $61,030 32% below national
143 York-Hanover, PA $61,000 32% below national
144 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $60,920 33% below national
145 Harrisonburg, VA $60,830 33% below national
146 Columbus, GA-AL $60,790 33% below national
147 Topeka, KS $60,600 33% below national
148 Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $60,580 33% below national
149 Lynchburg, VA $60,510 33% below national
150 Binghamton, NY $60,490 33% below national
151 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $60,440 33% below national
152 Reading, PA $60,280 33% below national
153 Boise City, ID $60,200 33% below national
154 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $60,130 33% below national
155 Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $60,060 34% below national
156 Lincoln, NE $60,000 34% below national
157 Richmond, VA $59,990 34% below national
158 Albuquerque, NM $59,910 34% below national
159 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $59,670 34% below national
160 Tulsa, OK $59,660 34% below national
161 Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $59,500 34% below national
162 Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $59,110 35% below national
163 Evansville, IN $59,010 35% below national
164 Erie, PA $58,940 35% below national
165 Flint, MI $58,930 35% below national
166 College Station-Bryan, TX $58,860 35% below national
167 Bismarck, ND $58,720 35% below national
168 Knoxville, TN $58,660 35% below national
169 Mobile, AL $58,650 35% below national
170 Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area $58,550 35% below national
171 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $57,340 37% below national
172 Fort Wayne, IN $57,260 37% below national
173 Joplin, MO-KS $57,220 37% below national
174 Springfield, MA $57,160 37% below national
175 Anchorage, AK $57,010 37% below national
176 Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $56,770 37% below national
177 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $56,730 37% below national
178 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $56,640 37% below national
179 Pittsfield, MA $56,500 37% below national
180 Greeley, CO $56,310 38% below national
181 Duluth, MN-WI $56,060 38% below national
182 St. George, UT $55,500 39% below national
183 Lexington-Fayette, KY $55,460 39% below national
184 Bloomington, IN $55,370 39% below national
185 Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $55,330 39% below national
186 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $55,190 39% below national
187 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $54,890 39% below national
188 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $54,680 39% below national
189 Lafayette, LA $54,390 40% below national
190 Charlottesville, VA $54,140 40% below national
191 Waco, TX $53,960 40% below national
192 Wichita, KS $53,850 40% below national
193 Fargo, ND-MN $52,700 42% below national
194 Rapid City, SD $52,680 42% below national
195 Omaha, NE-IA $52,580 42% below national
196 Missoula, MT $51,970 42% below national
197 Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $51,920 43% below national
198 Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $51,710 43% below national
199 Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $51,560 43% below national
200 Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $51,510 43% below national
201 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $51,500 43% below national
202 Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area $51,120 43% below national
203 Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $50,720 44% below national
204 Billings, MT $50,650 44% below national
205 Columbia, SC $50,430 44% below national
206 Jackson, MS $50,280 44% below national
207 Salisbury, MD $50,200 44% below national
208 East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $50,030 45% below national
209 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $49,910 45% below national
210 Kansas nonmetropolitan area $49,790 45% below national
211 Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $49,780 45% below national
212 Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $49,770 45% below national
213 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $49,630 45% below national
214 Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $49,500 45% below national
215 Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $49,310 45% below national
216 Cedar Rapids, IA $49,210 46% below national
217 El Paso, TX $49,020 46% below national
218 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $48,820 46% below national
219 Bowling Green, KY $48,790 46% below national
220 Columbia, MO $48,750 46% below national
221 South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $48,590 46% below national
222 West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $48,500 46% below national
223 Eau Claire, WI $48,380 46% below national
224 Roanoke, VA $47,960 47% below national
225 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $47,600 47% below national
226 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $46,820 48% below national
227 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $46,780 48% below national
228 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $46,620 48% below national
229 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $46,520 49% below national
230 Bangor, ME $46,380 49% below national
231 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $46,370 49% below national
232 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $46,280 49% below national
233 Dothan, AL $46,080 49% below national
234 Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $46,040 49% below national
235 Wausau, WI $46,020 49% below national
236 Terre Haute, IN $45,780 49% below national
237 Amarillo, TX $45,610 50% below national
238 Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $45,460 50% below national
239 Spartanburg, SC $45,090 50% below national
240 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $44,980 50% below national
241 Odessa, TX $44,670 51% below national
242 Macon-Bibb County, GA $44,270 51% below national
243 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $44,180 51% below national
244 Corpus Christi, TX $43,990 51% below national
245 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $43,890 51% below national
246 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $43,480 52% below national
247 Abilene, TX $43,300 52% below national
248 Peoria, IL $43,080 52% below national
249 Tyler, TX $42,650 53% below national
250 Lubbock, TX $42,330 53% below national
251 Rockford, IL $41,250 54% below national
252 Springfield, MO $40,680 55% below national
253 Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $40,390 55% below national
254 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $37,590 58% below national
255 Fort Smith, AR-OK $37,560 58% below national
256 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $35,860 60% below national
257 North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $24,960 72% below national

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Producers and Directors make? ▼
The median annual salary for Producers and Directors is $90,360 ($43.44/hour). The salary range spans from $45,780 at the 10th percentile to $198,540 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Producers and Directors the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Producers and Directors at $129,790/year, which is +44% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Producers and Directors? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Producers and Directors is Bachelor's degree. Less than 5 years of related work experience is also typically required.
How dangerous is being a Producers and Directors? ▼
Producers and Directors has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Producers and Directors a good career? ▼
Employment for Producers and Directors is projected to grow 4.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 12,800 openings are projected each year.
How does Producers and Directors pay vary by state? ▼
Producers and Directors salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $129,790/year, while Nebraska pays the least at $52,580/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Producers and Directors? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Producers and Directors is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $131,600/year. BLS reports wage data for 257 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Producers and Directors pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $134,800/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $129,790/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.