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Producer / Director

$90,360
median / year
$45,780 – $198,540
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Oversee the creative and logistical sides of film, TV, or theater, guiding cast, crew, budget, and vision.

You may also see this posted as: Artistic Director, Director, News Producer, Producer, Executive Producer, Multimedia Producer.

Where you work

Sets, studios, stages, and locations

The hours

Long, irregular hours; project-based

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
  • Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
  • Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
  • Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
  • Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.

Good fit if you like…

Artistic

creating, designing, performing, or working without a rigid script

Enterprising

leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

O*NET job zone 4 of 5

High preparation—usually a four-year degree plus experience—is common.

Work styles that matter most

InnovationLeadership OrientationSelf-ConfidenceAdaptability

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Adobe After EffectsAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe PhotoshopAdobe Premiere ProMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office software

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$90,360
per year
Hourly median
$43.44
per hour
What most earn
$45,780–$198,540
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~12,800
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+4.9%
About average
Working in the U.S.
143,120
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

BLS estimates 8.2% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree.

Related work experience: Less than 5 years.

On-the-job training: None.

License or certification

No license required to start in most places.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

Creative visionLeadershipBudgetingOrganization

The honest take

Steers a film, show, or broadcast from idea to finish — competitive, project-based, and rarely steady early on.

Standard Occupational Classification 27-2012. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.