Producer and Director Salary in San Francisco, CA
Producers and Directors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $130,640 a year — 45% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,940 take-home, or $7,578 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median producer and director salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,088
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,100
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,894
- California income tax$7,920
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,698
- Take-home pay$90,940
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 San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,670 | $34.46 | $55,797 | $4,650 |
| 25th percentile | $96,170 | $46.24 | $70,521 | $5,877 |
| Median (50th) | $130,640 | $62.81 | $90,940 | $7,578 |
| 75th percentile | $187,990 | $90.38 | $124,276 | $10,356 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $288,300+ | $138.61 | $181,516 | $15,126 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,640 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median producer and director's $90,940 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,659 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 2.3× 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
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 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
- Los Angeles, CA — $131,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a producer and director make in San Francisco, CA?
The median producer and director salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $130,640 a year, or about $62.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,170 and $187,990.
What is a producer and director’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $130,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $90,940 a year ($7,578 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,618 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a producer and director?
Pay here is 45% above the national median of $90,360. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,659 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a producer and director afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median producer and director’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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