Film director earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level film director earnings begin at:

$51.33 per hour

$106,760 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level film director earnings begin at:

$39.64 per hour

$82,460 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level film director earnings begin at:

$26.76 per hour

$55,660 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level film director earnings begin at:

$22.61 per hour

$47,030 per year

10th percentile

Starting level film director earnings begin at:

$21.72 per hour

$45,180 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Film director salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Connecticut $88,260
Oregon $87,460
Rhode Island $84,250
Washington $81,550
Illinois $81,080
Massachusetts $80,970
Georgia $79,950
Florida $79,920
Maryland $79,350
Nevada $78,480
Colorado $78,060
Minnesota $76,360
Utah $76,350
Pennsylvania $75,460
Tennessee $73,020
Delaware $72,650
Texas $71,710
Maine $71,320
Ohio $69,350
Arizona $67,320
Missouri $66,460
Wisconsin $66,390
Hawaii $66,190
Virginia $65,900
Michigan $65,720
North Carolina $63,700
Alabama $63,340
Louisiana $62,920
Oklahoma $61,600
New Hampshire $61,560
Idaho $61,150
Kansas $60,600
Wyoming $60,420
South Dakota $60,260
Indiana $59,870
Iowa $58,550
North Dakota $57,870
South Carolina $56,030
Vermont $55,660
Kentucky $54,550
Alaska $54,060
Montana $52,580
Nebraska $52,580
Mississippi $48,100
West Virginia $46,660
Arkansas $38,820
Puerto Rico $36,590
California $129,790
New Jersey $119,840
New York $107,550
District of Columbia $104,270
New Mexico $100,640

How do film director salaries compare to similar careers?

Film directors earn 7% less than similar careers in Vermont. On average, they make less than television writers but more than art therapists.

Career Median Salary
Television writer salary $94K
Industrial designer salary $81K
Film and video editor salary $63K
Fashion designer salary $80K
Graphic designer salary $66K
Film producer salary $56K
Casting director salary $56K
Film director salary $56K
Filmmaker salary $56K
Art therapist salary $63K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)