Producers and Directors Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$63,570
- 25th Percentile — Junior$83,110
- 50th Percentile — Median$129,790
- 75th Percentile — Senior$172,410
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$306,850
Half of Producers and Directors in California earn more than $129,790. The top 10% make $306,850 or more, while entry-level workers start around $63,570.
Producers and Directors in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 50 states for Producers and Directors pay, at $155,750 per year (37.5% above the U.S. average of $113,300).
- 34,110 people work as Producers and Directors in California — 23.8% of all U.S. Producers and Directors jobs.
- Location quotient 2.03: Producers and Directors jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $63,570; the top 10% earn over $306,850.
- Hourly equivalent: $74.88 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among creative jobs in California, Art Directors pays the most ($156,060).
Producers and Directors Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Producers and Directors here earn $155,750 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $155,750 is roughly equivalent to $109,683 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New York ($134,810), New Jersey ($124,310), District of Columbia ($115,040) are the closest alternatives for Producers and Directors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Creative Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Art Directors $156,060/yr California +0.2% vs this role
- Special Effects Artists and Animators $134,360/yr California 13.7% vs this role
- Editors $111,810/yr California 28.2% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $106,560/yr California 31.6% vs this role
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $106,350/yr California 31.7% vs this role
- Public Relations Specialists $97,140/yr California 37.6% vs this role
- Interior Designers $89,740/yr California 42.4% vs this role
- Graphic Designers $86,800/yr California 44.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Producers and Directors salary in California?
The average Producers and Directors salary in California is $155,750 per year (median $129,790), which is 37.5% above the national average of $113,300.
How does California rank for Producers and Directors pay?
California ranks 1st out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($155,750/yr).
How much do entry-level Producers and Directors make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Producers and Directors in California earn about $63,570 per year and the 25th percentile is $83,110.
How much do Producers and Directors make per hour in California?
About $74.88 per hour, based on the $155,750 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Producers and Directors work in California?
BLS counts 34,110 Producers and Directors jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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