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Film & Video Production

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Film & Video Production

Film & Video Production graduates earn $43,765 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $25,957 and $63,381. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Film & Video Production

Film & Video Production is a focused area of study within Visual & Performing Arts. Graduates typically earn around $43,765 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. The program is available at 678 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 18,531 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $25,300
Median Earnings · 4yr: $43,765
Colleges Offering: 678
Graduates / Year: 18,531
Avg Net Price / yr: $28,512

How Much Do Film & Video Production Graduates Earn?

Film & Video Production graduates earn $43,765 four years out, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $25,957 and $63,381. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $25,300 climbs to $43,765 by year four.

$25,300

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$43,765

4-Year National Median

Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.

$45,152

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

There is a wide earnings spread across Film & Video Production graduates. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$25,957 25th pct.

$43,765 Median

$63,381 75th pct.

Is the Cost Worth It?

At median 4-year earnings of $43,765 and an estimated $114,048 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 8.3 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 429 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 18,531 students who complete Film & Video Production programs each year, the majority (75%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

75%

Bachelor's 75%

Master's 11%

Associate's 9%

What Can You Do With a Film & Video Production Degree?

Film & Video Production connects to 6 occupations in the job market. Producer & Director leads at $90,360/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

↗ +4.9% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Producer & Director

$90,360

$63K $135K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 12,800 openings/yr 143K employed nationally

Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Judgment and Decision Making

Day-to-day responsibilities

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.

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.

↗ +1.7% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

$78,620

$62K $104K 25th–75th pct.

Master's degree 9,000 openings/yr 94K employed nationally

Speaking Instructing Learning Strategies Reading Comprehension Active Listening

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.

↗ +2.1% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Communications Teachers

$78,580

$61K $102K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 2,700 openings/yr 29K employed nationally

Active Listening Reading Comprehension Instructing Speaking Writing

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

↗ +4.0% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Film & Video Editor

$75,420

$53K $105K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 3,600 openings/yr 26K employed nationally

Active Listening Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Complex Problem Solving Active Learning

Day-to-day responsibilities

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.
Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.

↗ +1.2% Zone 3: Medium preparation

Camera Operators

$74,990

$51K $107K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 2,900 openings/yr 22K employed nationally

Active Listening Judgment and Decision Making Coordination Speaking Reading Comprehension

Day-to-day responsibilities

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.

Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.

↗ +1.8% Zone 3: Medium preparation

Photographer

$44,660

$36K $63K 25th–75th pct.

High school diploma or equivalent 12,700 openings/yr 52K employed nationally

Active Listening Speaking Service Orientation Active Learning Judgment and Decision Making

Day-to-day responsibilities

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.

Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.

Top Colleges for Film & Video Production

The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Film & Video Production students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit	527	9.2%	$37,050	$82,509
2	Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA · Nonprofit	453	83%	$49,430	$45,954
3	University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit	355	9.8%	$32,740	$92,498
4	Emerson College Boston, MA · Nonprofit	298	51.3%	$49,180	$62,832
5	Chapman University Orange, CA · Nonprofit	285	65.4%	$46,555	$70,070
6	DePaul University Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	277	75.9%	$30,902	$68,751
7	Georgia State University Atlanta, GA · Public	266	55.4%	$15,931	$47,384
8	Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH · Nonprofit	237	99.5%	$36,708	$50,318
9	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public	220	46.3%	$10,440	$64,403
10	School of Visual Arts New York, NY · For-Profit	217	92.6%	$57,914	$46,459
11	San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public	208	96.4%	$12,278	$68,077
12	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA · Public	191	65.8%	$17,890	$68,396
13	University of Central Florida Orlando, FL · Public	190	40.1%	$10,411	$58,308
14	University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA · Public	190	76.4%	$14,304	$67,699
15	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public	178	33%	$16,109	$74,915
16	Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit	177	45.1%	$48,381	$78,349
17	University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA · Public	175	28.6%	$14,251	$80,735
18	Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	172	89.5%	$26,598	$42,195
19	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public	165	89.9%	$14,967	$62,668
20	Temple University Philadelphia, PA · Public	143	80.4%	$28,198	$63,727

View all colleges

Ranked by Film & Video Production graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Film & Video Production program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Film & Video Production degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually 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.

Film & Video Production Degree: Pros & Cons

Film & Video Production carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $25,300 at graduation to $43,765 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 43,700 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availability Offered at 678 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.

CONS

Below-average earnings Four-year median of $43,765 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Long earnings breakeven At median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 8.3 years.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($25,957) and 75th ($63,381) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Film & Video Production Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Film & Video Production graduates earn?

Film & Video Production graduates earn a national median of $43,765 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $25,957 and $63,381. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.

What is the starting salary for a Film & Video Production degree?

One year after graduation, Film & Video Production degree holders earn a median of $25,300. That climbs to $43,765 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.

What jobs can you get with a Film & Video Production degree?

Film & Video Production degree holders pursue careers including Producer & Director, which pays a median of $90,360/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.

How long does a Film & Video Production program take?

A Film & Video Production bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.

How many colleges offer Film & Video Production?

678 colleges and universities in the United States offer Film & Video Production programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.

Is a Film & Video Production degree worth it?

With a median 4-year salary of $43,765 and an average net price of roughly $28,512/yr, a Film & Video Production degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.

What is the difference between Film & Video Production and Visual & Performing Arts?

Film & Video Production is a focused concentration within the broader Visual & Performing Arts field. The Visual & Performing Arts major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Film & Video Production-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.

What skills do employers look for in Film & Video Production graduates?

Employers hiring Film & Video Production graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.

What is the job outlook for Film & Video Production graduates?

The job outlook for Film & Video Production graduates is slow overall. Related occupations project an average of +2.6% job growth over the next 10 years. Producer & Director is among the strongest-growth roles at +4.9%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.