Producer and Director Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Producers and Directors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $131,600 a year — 46% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,495 take-home, or $7,625 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median producer and director salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,318
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,159
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,908
- California income tax$8,009
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,711
- Take-home pay$91,495
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Producer and Director pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,660 | $30.61 | $50,623 | $4,219 |
| 25th percentile | $82,960 | $39.88 | $62,628 | $5,219 |
| Median (50th) | $131,600 | $63.27 | $91,495 | $7,625 |
| 75th percentile | $172,570 | $82.97 | $115,155 | $9,596 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $325,310+ | $156.40 | $200,780 | $16,732 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,600 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median producer and director's $91,495 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,565 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 3.8× the national concentration of producer and director jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for producers and directors, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $131,600 | $91,495 | $80,565 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $130,640 | $90,940 | $78,659 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $108,460 | $79,773 | $70,869 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $100,270 | $73,815 | $67,793 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $85,040 | $64,591 | $62,349 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $87,980 | $70,724 | $61,954 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $79,950 | $61,548 | $61,513 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $83,850 | $63,846 | $58,971 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
About the job: producers and directors
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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.0% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Producer and Director salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $130,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a producer and director make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median producer and director salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $131,600 a year, or about $63.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,960 and $172,570.
What is a producer and director’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $131,600 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $91,495 a year ($7,625 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,720 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a producer and director?
Pay here is 46% above the national median of $90,360. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,565 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a producer and director afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median producer and director’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Art Director — $137,560
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210
- Interior Designer — $80,000
- Public Relations Specialist — $79,860
- Sound Engineering Technician — $77,850
- Graphic Designer — $72,400
- Audio and Video Technician — $64,900
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $48,900