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
+8.2%
2024→2025
$198,540
Top 10% earn
+4.9%
Growth '24–'34
143,120
Estimated US jobs

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 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is California ($129,790).

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 2034.

$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.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Producers and Directors moved from $74,420 in May 2019 to $90,360 in May 2025 (+21.4%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Producers and Directors sits -3.0 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012) has a national median of $90,360 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $45,780 to $198,540, and the published mean is $113,300. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 143,120 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 51 state or territory areas and 257 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $83,480 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $90,360 in May 2025, a rise of $6,880 (+8.2%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 12,800 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry and less than 5 years as the typical related-work-experience category. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

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 highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $131,600. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

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 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ 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.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 (this entry) 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$90,360 · 78th percentile of 825 US occupations

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. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Public Relations Spe… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.8% · Median annual wage: $74750Coaches and Scouts - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $47320Graphic Designers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.1% · Median annual wage: $62960Merchandise Displaye… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $39390Producers and Direct… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $90360Editors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.6% · Median annual wage: $77920Interior Designers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $67190Audio and Video Tech… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58100Art Directors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.2% · Median annual wage: $114850Interpreters and Tra… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.7% · Median annual wage: $60170Photographers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.8% · Median annual wage: $44660Writers and Authors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.6% · Median annual wage: $76910Technical Writers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.9% · Median annual wage: $90390Floral Designers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.9% · Median annual wage: $37360News Analysts, Repor… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.9% · Median annual wage: $62200Commercial and Indus… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $83910Film and Video Editors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4% · Median annual wage: $75420Camera Operators, Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74990Fashion Designers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2% · Median annual wage: $80960Broadcast Announcers… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.5% · Median annual wage: $47340Broadcast Technicians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -2.8% · Median annual wage: $59570Special Effects Arti… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.6% · Median annual wage: $102030Media and Communicat… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.7% · Median annual wage: $73620Umpires, Referees, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.7% · Median annual wage: $40710
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.
Read the chart as text
  • Public Relations Spe…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.8%, Median annual wage $74750
  • Coaches and Scouts: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $47320
  • Graphic Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $62960
  • Merchandise Displaye…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $39390
  • Producers and Direct…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $90360
  • Editors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $77920
  • Interior Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $67190
  • Audio and Video Tech…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58100
  • Art Directors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $114850
  • Interpreters and Tra…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $60170
  • Photographers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $44660
  • Writers and Authors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $76910
  • Technical Writers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.9%, Median annual wage $90390
  • Floral Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.9%, Median annual wage $37360
  • News Analysts, Repor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.9%, Median annual wage $62200
  • Commercial and Indus…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $83910
  • Film and Video Editors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $75420
  • Camera Operators, Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74990
  • Fashion Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $80960
  • Broadcast Announcers…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.5%, Median annual wage $47340
  • Broadcast Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.8%, Median annual wage $59570
  • Special Effects Arti…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.6%, Median annual wage $102030
  • Media and Communicat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $73620
  • Umpires, Referees, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.7%, Median annual wage $40710

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 as fast as average

Annual Openings

12,800

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+8,300

167,000 (2024) → 175,200 (2034)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Work Experience

Less than 5 years

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

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 4.4
Reading Comprehension 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Monitoring 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.9
Coordination 3.9
Writing 3.8
Time Management 3.6
Management of Personnel Resources 3.6

Knowledge Areas

Communications and Media 4.7
English Language 3.9
Telecommunications 3.7
Computers and Electronics 3.6
Administration and Management 3.4
Customer and Personal Service 3.2
Fine Arts 2.8
Engineering and Technology 2.7
Sales and Marketing 2.5
Administrative 2.5

Key Tasks

  • 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.
  • Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
  • Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
  • Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
  • Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
  • Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
  • Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
  • Write and submit proposals to bid on contracts for projects.
  • Perform management activities, such as budgeting, scheduling, planning, and marketing.

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

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$45,780
25th$62,670
Median$90,360
75th$134,800
90th$198,540

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$22.01
25th$30.13
Median$43.44
75th$64.81
90th$95.45

Producers and Directors pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$65,000$70,000$75,000$80,000$85,000$90,000$95,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $68,440National median - 2016: $70,950National median - 2017: $71,620National median - 2018: $71,680National median - 2019: $74,420National median - 2020: $76,400National median - 2021: $79,000National median - 2022: $85,320National median - 2023: $82,510National median - 2024: $83,480National median - 2025: $90,360$90,360
National median annual wage for Producers and Directors, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $68,440
2016 $70,950
2017 $71,620
2018 $71,680
2019 $74,420
2020 $76,400
2021 $79,000
2022 $85,320
2023 $82,510
2024 $83,480
2025 $90,360

2015 median

$68,440

2025 median

$90,360

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$15,940 (+21.4%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+3.3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Producers and Directors by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $68,440 First banked release 104,650
May 2016 $70,950 +3.7% 114,510
May 2017 $71,620 +0.9% 117,520
May 2018 $71,680 +0.1% 118,630
May 2019 $74,420 Classification break 129,210
May 2020 $76,400 +2.7% 119,490
May 2021 $79,000 +3.4% 138,250
May 2022 $85,320 +8.0% 153,770
May 2023 $82,510 -3.3% 154,470
May 2024 $83,480 +1.2% 145,270
May 2025 $90,360 +8.2% 143,120

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $68,440 in May 2015 to $90,360 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 129,210 in May 2019 to 143,120 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

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

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

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 27 (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 40 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($90,360 here) and reported employment (143,120 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do 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.
Where does Producers and Directors pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $90,360, Producers and Directors pay is higher than 78% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
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 Producers and Directors need?
BLS assigns Producers and Directors to Bachelor's degree for typical education needed for entry. Its typical related-work-experience assignment is Less than 5 years.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Producers and Directors?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Producers and Directors in this release. WageDex shows the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
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 as fast as 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 Arkansas pays the least at $38,820/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Producers and Directors?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $131,600/year. BLS reports a median for 214 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

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

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $134,800/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. 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.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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.