Film director earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level film director earnings begin at:

$33.63 per hour

$69,950 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level film director earnings begin at:

$25.40 per hour

$52,830 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level film director earnings begin at:

$19.73 per hour

$41,050 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level film director earnings begin at:

$15.37 per hour

$31,960 per year

10th percentile

Starting level film director earnings begin at:

$9.49 per hour

$19,730 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Film director salary by state

State Name Average Salary
California $97,550
New York $96,590
District of Columbia $82,150
New Jersey $75,830
Maryland $75,620
Georgia $73,470
Connecticut $70,380
Hawaii $70,120
Nevada $67,190
Minnesota $65,770
Virginia $65,140
Washington $64,400
Illinois $62,230
Massachusetts $61,810
Texas $61,790
Florida $60,320
Rhode Island $60,020
North Carolina $59,660
Alaska $58,940
Colorado $58,830
Pennsylvania $58,200
Oregon $58,040
Utah $55,940
Michigan $55,830
Louisiana $55,690
Missouri $55,380
New Mexico $54,030
New Hampshire $53,570
Alabama $53,320
Delaware $53,300
South Dakota $53,200
Ohio $53,190
Vermont $52,220
Tennessee $52,070
Wisconsin $51,740
Arkansas $51,650
Arizona $51,340
Kentucky $50,710
Oklahoma $49,080
Indiana $48,300
South Carolina $47,510
Idaho $47,070
Kansas $47,040
Nebraska $46,940
Maine $46,690
Montana $45,720
Wyoming $43,570
Puerto Rico $43,260
Iowa $43,190
North Dakota $42,480
Mississippi $41,050

How do film director salaries compare to similar careers?

Film directors earn about the same as related careers in Mississippi. On average, they make less than interior designers but more than engravers.

Career Median Salary
Interior designer salary $40K
Television writer salary $53K
Court reporter salary $48K
Photographer salary $43K
Producer salary $41K
Talent director salary $41K
Film director salary $41K
Filmmaker salary $41K
Graphic designer salary $37K
Engraver salary $34K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)