Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$45,780
- 25th Percentile — Junior$62,670
- 50th Percentile — Median$90,360
- 75th Percentile — Senior$134,800
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$198,540
The top 10% of Producers and Directors earn $198,540 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $45,780, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $155,750 | +37.5% |
| New York | $134,810 | +19.0% |
| New Jersey | $124,310 | +9.7% |
| District of Columbia | $115,040 | +1.5% |
| Delaware | $110,780 | -2.2% |
| Connecticut | $107,640 | -5.0% |
| Georgia | $103,280 | -8.8% |
| New Mexico (est.) | $99,704 | -12.0% |
| Washington | $98,990 | -12.6% |
| Illinois | $95,920 | -15.3% |
| Oregon | $95,710 | -15.5% |
| Florida | $95,330 | -15.9% |
| Massachusetts | $94,850 | -16.3% |
| Arizona | $94,670 | -16.4% |
| Nevada | $93,070 | -17.9% |
| Utah | $92,790 | -18.1% |
| Maryland | $90,950 | -19.7% |
| Rhode Island | $90,730 | -19.9% |
| Louisiana | $87,230 | -23.0% |
| Colorado | $86,150 | -24.0% |
| Maine | $85,650 | -24.4% |
| Texas | $85,080 | -24.9% |
| Pennsylvania | $83,200 | -26.6% |
| Minnesota | $81,760 | -27.8% |
| Wisconsin | $79,780 | -29.6% |
| Michigan | $79,620 | -29.7% |
| Missouri | $78,870 | -30.4% |
| Tennessee | $78,680 | -30.6% |
| Ohio | $78,200 | -31.0% |
| North Carolina | $75,170 | -33.7% |
| Virginia | $74,770 | -34.0% |
| Hawaii | $74,520 | -34.2% |
| Alabama | $73,650 | -35.0% |
| South Carolina | $73,000 | -35.6% |
| Oklahoma | $70,320 | -37.9% |
| Vermont | $70,180 | -38.1% |
| Idaho | $69,860 | -38.3% |
| Kansas | $67,800 | -40.2% |
| South Dakota | $65,090 | -42.6% |
| New Hampshire | $65,050 | -42.6% |
| Indiana | $64,940 | -42.7% |
| Iowa | $64,710 | -42.9% |
| West Virginia | $63,710 | -43.8% |
| Montana | $63,490 | -44.0% |
| North Dakota | $62,700 | -44.7% |
| Nebraska | $62,370 | -45.0% |
| Kentucky | $61,920 | -45.3% |
| Wyoming | $60,010 | -47.0% |
| Alaska | $59,690 | -47.3% |
| Mississippi | $56,050 | -50.5% |
| Arkansas | $44,440 | -60.8% |
What Factors Affect Producers and Directors Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Producers and Directors is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $155,750, while Arkansas pays $44,440 — a gap of $111,310 per year.
The middle half of Producers and Directors earn between $62,670 and $134,800 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $45,780, while the top 10% earn more than $198,540.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Producers and Directors?
The average salary for Producers and Directors in the United States is $113,300 per year, with a median of $90,360.
What is the starting salary for Producers and Directors?
Entry-level Producers and Directors typically earn between $45,780 and $62,670 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Producers and Directors the most?
California pays Producers and Directors the most at $155,750 per year on average, followed by New York ($134,810) and New Jersey ($124,310).
How much do Producers and Directors make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $113,300, Producers and Directors earn approximately $54.47 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Producers and Directors a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 143,120 Producers and Directors jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $113,300 and a median of $90,360 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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