$ PaycheckDecoded

Producer and Director Salary

Producers and Directors earn a median $90,360 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

U.S. median
$90,360
$43.44 per hour
Range
$45,780 – $198,540
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
143,120
across the U.S.

Producer and Director take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Producer and Director
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$72,398
per year · effective tax rate 19.9%
$6,033Monthly
$3,017Twice a month
$2,785Every 2 weeks
$34.81Hourly
  • Federal income tax$11,049
  • Social Security (6.2%)$5,602
  • Medicare (1.45%)$1,310
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$72,398

Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$45,780$22.01$38,964
25th percentile$62,670$30.13$52,535
Median (50th)$90,360$43.44$72,398
75th percentile$134,800$64.81$103,402
90th percentile (top earners)$198,540$95.45$147,839

Best cities for producers and directors (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Los Angeles, CA$131,600$91,495$80,56521,910
2San Francisco, CA$130,640$90,940$78,6595,030
3Waterbury, CT$102,340$76,772$76,943860
4New York, NY$108,460$79,773$70,86927,020
5Bridgeport, CT$100,060$75,294$70,458620
6Washington, DC$100,270$73,815$67,7934,230
7St. Louis, MO$82,750$64,093$67,404670
8Nashville, TN$79,590$64,822$67,2861,830
9Riverside, CA$97,360$71,232$66,921470
10Austin, TX$78,050$63,738$64,9951,200
11Las Vegas, NV$79,970$65,089$64,9491,420
12Orlando, FL$80,960$65,785$64,8661,710
13San Diego, CA$99,520$72,523$64,818990
14Seattle, WA$86,680$69,809$62,8161,660
15Chicago, IL$85,040$64,591$62,3492,590
16Miami, FL$87,980$70,724$61,9543,020
17Atlanta, GA$79,950$61,548$61,5133,840
18Dallas, TX$77,260$63,182$61,2892,330
19Tampa, FL$74,810$61,459$60,917740
20Portland, OR$88,450$64,145$60,8461,160
21Providence, RI$78,530$61,748$60,672520
22Charlotte, NC$74,850$59,009$60,6171,240
23Philadelphia, PA$79,070$62,028$60,4841,910
24Baltimore, MD$80,850$62,231$59,559690
25Detroit, MI$76,290$59,508$59,3321,090

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Producer and Director salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
California $129,790$90,449 $63,570 – $239,200+34,110
New Jersey $119,840$87,694 $62,310 – $206,7702,970
New York $107,550$79,186 $61,960 – $222,58027,990
District of Columbia $104,270$76,289 $69,260 – $170,4902,640
Connecticut $88,260$67,642 $49,960 – $177,8702,200
Oregon $87,460$63,535 $49,350 – $143,4901,640
Rhode Island $84,250$65,557 $43,090 – $136,360560
Washington $81,550$66,200 $47,810 – $167,7602,270
Illinois $81,080$62,001 $41,250 – $169,0403,170
Massachusetts $80,970$61,964 $45,820 – $150,1403,440
Georgia $79,950$61,548 $50,540 – $168,7405,010
Florida $79,920$65,054 $46,460 – $164,0907,160
Maryland $79,350$61,247 $43,740 – $148,7001,610
Nevada $78,480$64,041 $38,420 – $164,9001,630
Colorado $78,060$61,019 $45,730 – $134,6701,960
Minnesota $76,360$58,880 $39,800 – $130,7501,390
Utah $76,350$60,072 $36,500 – $168,1401,670
Pennsylvania $75,460$59,599 $40,700 – $130,5604,200
Tennessee $73,020$60,200 $36,120 – $132,6102,920
Delaware $72,650$56,485 $50,420 – $238,670150
Texas $71,710$59,278 $40,610 – $146,3406,610
Maine $71,320$55,371 $44,000 – $138,230400
Ohio $69,350$56,493 $44,950 – $122,4501,610
Arizona $67,320$54,715 $36,260 – $208,9901,720
Missouri $66,460$53,394 $37,610 – $124,1301,630
Wisconsin $66,390$53,384 $38,680 – $130,0501,600
Hawaii $66,190$51,863 $44,230 – $131,490510
Virginia $65,900$52,156 $40,780 – $119,0902,820
Michigan $65,720$52,444 $38,500 – $122,2202,310
North Carolina $63,700$51,330 $34,120 – $133,1703,500
Alabama $63,340$50,172 $39,340 – $107,8901,040
Louisiana $62,920$51,235 $35,750 – $150,220880
Oklahoma $61,600$49,449 $38,220 – $102,800770
New Hampshire $61,560$51,643 $26,560 – $96,560300
Idaho $61,150$49,181 $38,400 – $128,260380
Kansas $60,600$48,290 $36,260 – $113,050420
Wyoming $60,420$50,727 $36,850 – $85,090130
South Dakota $60,260$50,599 $38,140 – $109,180170
Indiana $59,870$48,549 $37,040 – $96,1001,480
Iowa $58,550$47,652 $36,900 – $101,230720
North Dakota $57,870$48,679 $37,970 – $97,300170
South Carolina $56,030$44,995 $38,760 – $136,3601,190
Vermont $55,660$45,472 $45,180 – $106,760290
Kentucky $54,550$44,219 $35,860 – $95,970950
Alaska $54,060$45,617 $41,600 – $82,890160
Montana $52,580$42,713 $32,570 – $98,820390
Nebraska $52,580$42,915 $33,750 – $101,070470
Mississippi $48,100$39,636 $27,230 – $84,010390
West Virginia $46,660$38,299 $35,700 – $124,880230
Arkansas $38,820$32,071 $24,090 – $76,110700

Frequently asked questions

How much does a producer and director make?

The national median salary for producers and directors is $90,360 a year ($43.44 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $45,780 and the top 10% earn over $198,540. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays producers and directors the most?

California has the highest median pay at $129,790. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many producers and directors are there in the U.S.?

About 143,120 people work as producers and directors nationwide.

All 37 cities