Producer and Director Salary in Washington, DC
Producers and Directors in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $100,270 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,815 take-home, or $6,151 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$13,229
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,454
- District of Columbia income tax$5,554
- Take-home pay$73,815
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Producer and Director pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,720 | $27.75 | $46,253 | $3,854 |
| 25th percentile | $78,580 | $37.78 | $60,400 | $5,033 |
| Median (50th) | $100,270 | $48.21 | $73,815 | $6,151 |
| 75th percentile | $127,890 | $61.49 | $90,777 | $7,565 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,290 | $76.58 | $109,570 | $9,131 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,270 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median producer and director's $73,815 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,793 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.5× 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
Washington, DC ranks #6 of 37 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 | Waterbury, CT | $102,340 | $76,772 | $76,943 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $108,460 | $79,773 | $70,869 |
| 5 | Bridgeport, CT | $100,060 | $75,294 | $70,458 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $100,270 | $73,815 | $67,793 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $82,750 | $64,093 | $67,404 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $79,590 | $64,822 | $67,286 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a producer and director make in Washington, DC?
The median producer and director salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $100,270 a year, or about $48.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,580 and $127,890.
What is a producer and director’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $100,270 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $73,815 a year ($6,151 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,554 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a producer and director?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $90,360. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,793 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #6 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a producer and director afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median producer and director’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Artists and Related Workers, All Other — $125,050
- Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other — $121,680
- Writer and Author — $108,460
- Art Director — $105,990
- Public Relations Specialist — $101,680
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $101,020
- Technical Writer — $99,910
- Interpreter and Translator — $94,510
- Film and Video Editor — $91,750
- Graphic Designer — $85,420
- Editor — $84,800
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $83,320