Arts, design, media and sports
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.
Median pay
$90,360
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
12,100
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Producers and directors
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Producers and directors: 76% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
- Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
- Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
Also called: Artistic Director · Director · Executive Producer · Multimedia Producer · News Producer · Producer · Production Director · Radio Producer
Outlook and AI
Producers and directors held 181,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 188,300 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Producers and directors vs. Film and video editors
- Producers and directors vs. Art director
- Producers and directors vs. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
- Producers and directors vs. Writers and authors
- Producers and directors vs. Music directors and composers
- Producers and directors vs. News analysts, reporters, and journalists
- Producers and directors vs. Editor