Dancers
+4.5%
Employed
8K
Openings/yr
2K
Typically: no formal educational credential
HUMANITIES
Producer & Director
Producer & Director earn $90,360 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $62,670 and $134,800. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Producer & Director
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.
- Median Wage
- $90,360
- Employed Nationally
- 143K
- Openings / Year
- 12,800
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Animation Director
Animation Producer
Art Framing Manager
Artistic Director
Broadcast News Producer
How Much Do Producers & Directors Make?
Producer & Director earn $90,360 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $62,670 and $134,800. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$90,360
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$63K–$135K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$62,670
Entry-level
$90,360
Median
$134,800
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $113,300, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Producers & Directors Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Producer & Director roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Judgment and Decision Making
Who Thrives Here
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Where Do Producers & Directors Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Producers & Directors?
The BLS projects +4.9% employment change for Producer & Director through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 12,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +4.9%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
12,800
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
143K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Producer & Director professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $90,360 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 35,650 | $122,150 | +35.2% |
| 2 | New York | 29,720 | $104,010 | +15.1% |
| 3 | Florida | 8,160 | $81,240 | -10.1% |
| 4 | Texas | 7,270 | $63,400 | -29.8% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 4,400 | $72,450 | -19.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Producer & Director positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 4 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Film & Video Production | 18,531 | $43,765 | 678 |
| 2 | Radio, Television & Digital Media | 18,257 | $50,497 | 641 |
| 3 | Drama & Theatre | 16,853 | $39,775 | 1,116 |
| 4 | Arts Therapy | 4,722 | $48,240 | 346 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Producers & Directors
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Producer & Director, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Producer & Director pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Producer & Director Pros & Cons
The data on Producer & Director shows 3 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $90,360 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.9% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $134,800 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $90,360 median while building the experience employers require.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $62,670 is considerably below the $90,360 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Producer & Director Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Producer & Director professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Producer & Director is $90,360, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $62,670 and $134,800. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Producer & Director a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $90,360 median, with +4.9% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Producer & Director?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Film & Video Production are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $90,360 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Producer & Director?
The BLS projects +4.9% employment change for Producer & Director through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 12,800 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 143K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Producer & Director salaries vary so widely?
The $72,130 gap between the 25th ($62,670) and 75th ($134,800) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Producer & Director professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Producer & Director roles: Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, and Judgment and Decision Making. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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