Producers and Directors Salary
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 143K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$90,360
Median hourly
$43
Average annual
$113,300
Typical range
$45,780–$198,540
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Producers and Directors is $90,360 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $43 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography..
Most earn between $45,780 and $198,540 a year. There are roughly 143K people employed as producers and directors in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Producers and Directors.
- Hourly
- $43.44
- Daily
- $348
- Weekly
- $1,738
- Bi-weekly
- $3,475
- Monthly
- $7,530
- Annual
- $90,360
$90,360 a year is around the 50th percentile for Producers and Directorss. The median is $90,360.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$129,790
- 2New Jersey$119,840
- 3New York$107,550
- 4District of Columbia$104,270
- 5Connecticut$88,260
- 6Oregon$87,460
- 7Rhode Island$84,250
- 8Washington$81,550
- 9Illinois$81,080
- 10Massachusetts$80,970
- 11Georgia$79,950
- 12Florida$79,920
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$131,600
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$130,640
- 3Trenton-Princeton, NJ$110,190
- 4New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$108,460
- 5Waterbury-Shelton, CT$102,340
- 6Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$100,270
- 7Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$100,060
- 8San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$99,520
- 9Salem, OR$98,900
- 10Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$97,360
- 11Bakersfield-Delano, CA$92,510
- 12Bellingham, WA$92,220
Related job titles
Employers advertise Producers and Directors roles under these titles.
- Animation Director
- Animation Producer
- Art Framing Manager
- Artist Manager
- Artistic Director
- Broadcast Content Manager
- Broadcast Director
- Broadcast News Producer
- Broadcast Operations Director
- Broadcast Producer
- Casting Agent
- Casting Coordinator
- Casting Director
- Content Producer
- Contestant Coordinator
- Creative Director
Related occupations
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes$82,890
- Producers and Directors$90,360
- Computer Occupations, All Other$116,580
- Music Directors and Composers$73,710
- Film and Video Editors$75,420
- Project Management Specialists$102,320
- Art Directors$114,850
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340
What a Producers and Directors does
- Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
- Negotiate contract agreements with performers, with agents, or between performers and agents or production companies.
- Arrange for or design screen tests or auditions for prospective performers.
- Maintain talent files that include information such as performers' specialties, past performances, and availability.
- Prepare actors for auditions by providing scripts and information about roles and casting requirements.
- Read scripts and confer with producers to determine the types and numbers of performers required for a given production.
- Contact agents and actors to provide notification of audition and performance opportunities and to set up audition times.
- Serve as liaisons between directors, actors, and agents.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Producers and Directors make?
- The median annual wage for Producers and Directors is $90,360 ($43 per hour). Pay ranges from about $45,780 at the 10th percentile to $198,540 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Producers and Directors?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $113,300, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Producers and Directorss the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $129,790.
- Is Producers and Directors a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 143K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Producers and Directors do?
- Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.; Negotiate contract agreements with performers, with agents, or between performers and agents or production companies.; Arrange for or design screen tests or auditions for prospective performers..