California Median
$129,790
per year
Hourly Rate
$62.40
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+44% vs US median
US median $90,360
State Rank
#1 of 50
34,110 employed here
How much do Producers and Directors make in California?
Producers and Directors working in California earn a median salary of $129,790 per year, or about $62.40 per hour. That is 44% above the national median of $90,360 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $63,570 while the top 10% make $306,850 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $83,110 and $172,410 a year.
Producers and Directors salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,570 | $30.56 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $83,110 | $39.96 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,790 | $62.40 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $172,410 | $82.89 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $306,850 | $147.52 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 50 states and territories for Producers and Directors pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Producers and Directors salary in other states
New Jersey $119,840New York $107,550District of Columbia $104,270Connecticut $88,260Oregon $87,460Rhode Island $84,250Washington $81,550Illinois $81,080Massachusetts $80,970Georgia $79,950Florida $79,920Maryland $79,350Nevada $78,480Colorado $78,060Minnesota $76,360Utah $76,350Pennsylvania $75,460Tennessee $73,020Delaware $72,650Texas $71,710Maine $71,320Ohio $69,350Arizona $67,320Missouri $66,460Wisconsin $66,390Hawaii $66,190Virginia $65,900Michigan $65,720North Carolina $63,700Alabama $63,340Louisiana $62,920Oklahoma $61,600New Hampshire $61,560Idaho $61,150Kansas $60,600Wyoming $60,420South Dakota $60,260Indiana $59,870Iowa $58,550North Dakota $57,870South Carolina $56,030Vermont $55,660Kentucky $54,550Alaska $54,060Montana $52,580Nebraska $52,580Mississippi $48,100West Virginia $46,660Arkansas $38,820
Working as Producers and Directors in California
Nationally, about 143,000 people work as Producers and Directors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($129,790) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Producers and Directors make in California?
The median Producers and Directors salary in California is $129,790 per year, or about $62.40 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $63,570 at the entry level to $306,850 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Producers and Directors about 44% more than the national median of $90,360. California ranks 1st out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Producers and Directors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $129,790 a year. About 34,110 Producers and Directors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Producers and Directors salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.