Producers and Directors salary in the U.S.
Producers and Directors in the U.S. earn a median of $90,360 a year ($43.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 143,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $198,540 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $113,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for producers and directors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| 25th percentile | $62,670 | $30.13 |
| Median | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| 75th percentile | $134,800 | $64.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $198,540 | $95.45 |
| Average (mean) | $113,300 | $54.47 |
Half of producers and directors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,530 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,765 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,475.38 |
| Weekly | $1,737.69 |
| Hourly | $43.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Producers and Directors salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $129,790 | 34,110 |
| New Jersey | $119,840 | 2,970 |
| New York | $107,550 | 27,990 |
| District of Columbia | $104,270 | 2,640 |
| Connecticut | $88,260 | 2,200 |
| Oregon | $87,460 | 1,640 |
| Rhode Island | $84,250 | 560 |
| Washington | $81,550 | 2,270 |
| Illinois | $81,080 | 3,170 |
| Massachusetts | $80,970 | 3,440 |
| Georgia | $79,950 | 5,010 |
| Florida | $79,920 | 7,160 |
| Maryland | $79,350 | 1,610 |
| Nevada | $78,480 | 1,630 |
| Colorado | $78,060 | 1,960 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 | 1,390 |
| Utah | $76,350 | 1,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,460 | 4,200 |
| Tennessee | $73,020 | 2,920 |
| Delaware | $72,650 | 150 |
| Texas | $71,710 | 6,610 |
| Maine | $71,320 | 400 |
| Ohio | $69,350 | 1,610 |
| Arizona | $67,320 | 1,720 |
| Missouri | $66,460 | 1,630 |
| Wisconsin | $66,390 | 1,600 |
| Hawaii | $66,190 | 510 |
| Virginia | $65,900 | 2,820 |
| Michigan | $65,720 | 2,310 |
| North Carolina | $63,700 | 3,500 |
| Alabama | $63,340 | 1,040 |
| Louisiana | $62,920 | 880 |
| Oklahoma | $61,600 | 770 |
| New Hampshire | $61,560 | 300 |
| Idaho | $61,150 | 380 |
| Kansas | $60,600 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $60,420 | 130 |
| South Dakota | $60,260 | 170 |
| Indiana | $59,870 | 1,480 |
| Iowa | $58,550 | 720 |
| North Dakota | $57,870 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $56,030 | 1,190 |
| Vermont | $55,660 | 290 |
| Kentucky | $54,550 | 950 |
| Alaska | $54,060 | 160 |
| Montana | $52,580 | 390 |
| Nebraska | $52,580 | 470 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,820 | 260 |
| Mississippi | $48,100 | 390 |
| West Virginia | $46,660 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $38,820 | 700 |
Best-paying metro areas for producers and directors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $131,600 | 21,910 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,640 | 5,030 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $110,190 | 190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $108,460 | 27,020 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $102,340 | 860 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $100,270 | 4,230 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $100,060 | 620 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $99,520 | 990 |
| Salem, OR | $98,900 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $97,360 | 470 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $92,510 | 110 |
| Bellingham, WA | $92,220 | 40 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $89,390 | 370 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $88,450 | 1,160 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $87,980 | 3,020 |
Metro areas with the most producers and directors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 27,020 | $108,460 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 21,910 | $131,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,030 | $130,640 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,230 | $100,270 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 3,840 | $79,950 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,020 | $87,980 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,640 | $83,850 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,590 | $85,040 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,330 | $77,260 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,910 | $79,070 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,830 | $79,590 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,710 | $80,960 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,660 | $86,680 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 1,420 | $79,970 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,240 | $74,850 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Actor | — | $29.05 |
| Musicians and Singers | — | $47.80 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | — | $18.82 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $40,710 | — |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | — |
| Music Directors and Composers | $73,710 | $35.44 |
| Dancer | — | $24.80 |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | — | $21.61 |
| Choreographer | $55,310 | $26.59 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a producers and directors make in the U.S.?
The median salary for producers and directors in the U.S. is $90,360 a year, or $43.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $198,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid producers and directors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of producers and directors in the U.S. earn at least $198,540 a year. The top 25% earn $134,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for producers and directors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,780 a year, and a quarter of producers and directors earn $62,670 or less.
How many producers and directors work in the U.S.?
About 143,120 producers and directors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.