CareerFacts

All careers › Producers and Directors

Artistic director and producer: pay, job outlook and how to get in

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$90,360median pay per year, or $43.44 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $45,780lowest 10% earn less
  2. $62,67025th percentile
  3. $90,360median
  4. $134,80075th percentile
  5. $198,540top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Producers and directors, the BLS category that includes an artistic director, had a median pay of $90,360 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4%[2]
Openings per year
12,100[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do producers and directors make?

The median pay was $90,360 a year, or $43.44 an hour[1]. The median splits workers into two equal groups, with half paid above it and half below[1]. The average was $113,300 a year, or $54.47 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[4].

Pay spreads very wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,780, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $198,540[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $45,780 $22.01
25th[3][9] $62,670 $30.13
50th (median)[1] $90,360 $43.44
75th[3][9] $134,800 $64.81
90th[3][9] $198,540 $95.45

These wages cover workers paid a wage or salary, whether part time or full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. In 2025, 20.4% of producers and directors were self-employed[11]. About 143,120 held wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest median pay at $129,790[13]. New Jersey followed at $119,840, then New York at $107,550 and the District of Columbia at $104,270[13]. Arkansas had the lowest published median at $38,820[13].

California and New York had the most jobs. California had 34,110[14] and New York had 27,990[14]. Florida was third with 7,160[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the highest median at $131,600[15]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $130,640, then Trenton-Princeton, NJ at $110,190[15]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the most jobs at 27,020, ahead of Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at 21,910[16].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[13]$129,79034,110
New Jersey$119,8402,970
New York$107,55027,990
District of Columbia$104,2702,640
Connecticut$88,2602,200
Oregon$87,4601,640
Rhode Island$84,250560
Washington$81,5502,270
Illinois$81,0803,170
Massachusetts$80,9703,440
Georgia$79,9505,010
Florida$79,9207,160
Maryland$79,3501,610
Nevada$78,4801,630
Colorado$78,0601,960
Minnesota$76,3601,390
Utah$76,3501,670
Pennsylvania$75,4604,200
Tennessee$73,0202,920
Delaware$72,650150
Texas$71,7106,610
Maine$71,320400
Ohio$69,3501,610
Arizona$67,3201,720
Missouri$66,4601,630
Wisconsin$66,3901,600
Hawaii$66,190510
Virginia$65,9002,820
Michigan$65,7202,310
North Carolina$63,7003,500
Alabama$63,3401,040
Louisiana$62,920880
Oklahoma$61,600770
New Hampshire$61,560300
Idaho$61,150380
Kansas$60,600420
Wyoming$60,420130
South Dakota$60,260170
Indiana$59,8701,480
Iowa$58,550720
North Dakota$57,870170
South Carolina$56,0301,190
Vermont$55,660290
Kentucky$54,550950
Alaska$54,060160
Montana$52,580390
Nebraska$52,580470
Mississippi$48,100390
West Virginia$46,660230
Arkansas$38,820700

How to become an artistic director or producer

Stage directors may study theater, and some later earn a Master of Fine Arts degree[20]. BLS lists no typical on-the-job training[6].

In an O*NET survey of 36 workers, 57% said a bachelor's degree was required, 15% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 13% said an associate's degree and 11% said a post-secondary certificate[21]. As a reputation grows, a producer or director may take on larger and more expensive projects[22].

What producers and directors do

Producers and directors make or direct stage, television, radio, video or film productions. They make creative calls such as how to read a script, who to cast, and how to handle sets, sound and effects[23]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles that workers report include artistic director, executive producer, news producer and radio producer[25]. Good communication, creativity, decision-making and leadership skills are listed as important[26][27][28][29].

Where they work

Among the largest groups of workers, 20% of producers and directors were self-employed in 2025[30]. Theater directors and producers may tour with a show. People in film and television may work on location[31].

Schedules can be demanding. Workdays may be long and irregular, and evening, weekend and holiday work is common. Most hold full-time jobs, and for some the week runs past 40 hours[32]. Assignments can be short, from 1 day to a few months, and there is often pressure to finish on time[33]. Workers sometimes face unpleasant conditions such as bad weather[33].

Job outlook

Employment is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 181,000 to 188,300 jobs[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[34]. Projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS projects about 12,100 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 4.4% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

Pay is well above the median for all occupations, but it ranges widely and is far higher in a few states[1][4][3][13]. The path calls for a bachelor's degree and some related experience[6]. Projected growth is close to the rate for all occupations[2][34]. The schedule can be long and irregular, and about one in five workers is self-employed[32][11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an artistic director or producer make an hour?
For producers and directors, the median was $43.44 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $54.47 an hour[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a producer or director?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education. The handbook names film or cinema studies and related fields[6][17].
How long does it take to become a producer or director?
The facts do not give the length of a degree. The typical path asks for less than 5 years of related work experience[6].
Is producer and director a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][34].
What is the highest paying state for producers and directors?
California had the highest median at $129,790 in May 2025[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Producers and Directors in the US was $90,360 per year and $43.44 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Producers and Directors is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 181,000 to 188,300 jobs (a change of +7,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Producers and Directors: 10th percentile $45,780, 25th percentile $62,670, 75th percentile $134,800, 90th percentile $198,540. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 12,100 openings for Producers and Directors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Producers and Directors: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Producers and Directors was $113,300 per year and $54.47 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Producers and Directors: 10th percentile $22.01, 25th percentile $30.13, 75th percentile $64.81, 90th percentile $95.45. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 20.4% of Producers and Directors were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 143,120 people were employed as Producers and Directors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Producers and Directors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Producers and Directors jobs: California 34,110; New York 27,990; Florida 7,160; Texas 6,610; Georgia 5,010. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Producers and Directors (areas with at least 100 jobs): Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $131,600; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $130,640; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $110,190; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $108,460; Waterbury-Shelton, CT $102,340; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $100,270; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $100,060; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $99,520. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Producers and Directors jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 27,020 (median $108,460); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 21,910 (median $131,600); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 5,030 (median $130,640); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,230 (median $100,270); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 3,840 (median $79,950); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,020 (median $87,980). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 27-2012.00 survey of workers (36 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 57%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 15%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 13%, Post-Secondary Certificate 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Producers and Directors. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Producers and Directors. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 27-2012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Artistic Director, Director, Executive Producer, Multimedia Producer, News Producer, Producer, Production Director, Radio Producer. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of producers and directors in 2025: Self-employed workers 20%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Producers and Directors: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.