How Much Does a Movie Director Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$90,360
Movie directors in the U.S. earn a median of $90,360 a year, or $43.44 an hour. Half of movie directors earn more than $90,360 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $198,540.
Pay percentiles for movie directors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22.01 | $45,780 |
| 25th | $30.13 | $62,670 |
| 50th (median) | $43.44 | $90,360 |
| 75th | $64.81 | $134,800 |
| 90th | $95.45 | $198,540 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for movie directors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $129,790 | $62.40 | +44% |
| New Jersey | $119,840 | $57.62 | +33% |
| New York | $107,550 | $51.71 | +19% |
| District of Columbia | $104,270 | $50.13 | +15% |
| Connecticut | $88,260 | $42.43 | −2% |
| Oregon | $87,460 | $42.05 | −3% |
| Rhode Island | $84,250 | $40.51 | −7% |
| Washington | $81,550 | $39.21 | −10% |
| Illinois | $81,080 | $38.98 | −10% |
| Massachusetts | $80,970 | $38.93 | −10% |
| United States | $90,360 | $43.44 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many movie directors are there?
BLS counts about 143,120 movie directors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Producers and Directors”. The most jobs are in California (34,110), New York (27,990) and Florida (7,160).
The mean (average) annual wage is $113,300, higher than the median of $90,360.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $7,530
- Biweekly
- $3,475
- Weekly
- $1,738
- Daily (8 hours)
- $348
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do movie directors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for movie directors is $43.44. The middle 50% earn between $30.13 and $64.81 an hour.
Which state pays movie directors the most?
California has the highest median wage for movie directors at $129,790, +44% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for movie directors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of movie directors earn less than $45,780 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.