Arts, Design, Media & Sports
Producers and Directors
Also called: Artistic Director, Director, Executive Producer, Multimedia Producer
US median pay
$90,360
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
12,100
181,000 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Perform management activities, such as budgeting, scheduling, planning, and marketing.
- Consult with writers, producers, or actors about script changes or "workshop" scripts, through rehearsal with writers and actors to create final drafts.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Time Management3.6/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.6/5
- Systems Analysis3.5/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Systems Evaluation3.2/5
Knowledge
- Communications and Media4.7/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Telecommunications3.7/5
- Computers and Electronics3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree57%
- High school diploma15%
- Associate's degree13%
Who this job suits
Mostly Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.