# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/producers-and-directors
- SOC code: 27-2012.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $90,360 (10th percentile $45,780, 90th percentile $198,540)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.0%
- Openings a year: 12,100
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code AEC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 19 |
| Investigative (I) | 21 |
| Artistic (A) | 86 |
| Social (S) | 35 |
| Enterprising (E) | 80 |
| Conventional (C) | 43 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 92/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 90/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 85/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 78/100)
- Processing Information (importance 77/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 77/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 75/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Writing, Management of Personnel Resources, Time Management

## Knowledge

Communications and Media, English Language, Telecommunications, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Fine Arts, Engineering and Technology, Sales and Marketing, Administrative

## Also called

Animation Director, Animation Producer, Art Framing Manager, Artistic Director, Broadcast News Producer, Broadcast Producer, Casting Director, Commercial Director, Content Producer, Creative Director

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5005) (CIP 5005, 1,130 colleges)
- [Film/Video and Photographic Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5006) (CIP 5006, 676 colleges)
- [Radio, Television, and Digital Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0907) (CIP 0907, 653 colleges)
- [Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5010) (CIP 5010, 351 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | not reported | $99,915 | $20,437 |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rochester-institute-of-technology-2250) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $65,196 | $91,222 | $25,500 |
| [Fordham University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fordham-university-990) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $57,292 | $84,366 | $27,000 |
| [Miami University-Oxford](https://www.collegesref.com/college/miami-university-oxford-1675) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $53,569 | $82,411 | $21,030 |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $54,824 | $77,109 | $16,750 |
| [The New School](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-new-school-2749) | Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $49,196 | $74,936 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $35,898 | $70,963 | $12,979 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $42,990 | $70,815 | $22,250 |

## Related careers

- [Media Technical Directors/Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-technical-directors-managers): $90,360 median pay
- [Media Programming Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-programming-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Film and Video Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/film-and-video-editors): $75,420 median pay
- [Art Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-directors): $114,850 median pay
- [Talent Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/talent-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/broadcast-announcers-and-radio-disc-jockeys): $47,340 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.