Film director earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level film director earnings begin at:

$44.09 per hour

$91,710 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level film director earnings begin at:

$33.05 per hour

$68,740 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level film director earnings begin at:

$25.11 per hour

$52,220 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level film director earnings begin at:

$17.58 per hour

$36,560 per year

10th percentile

Starting level film director earnings begin at:

$12.00 per hour

$24,950 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 6% less than similar careers in Vermont. On average, they make less than games artists but more than illustrators.

Career Median Salary
Games artist salary $71K
Architect salary $69K
Industrial designer salary $64K
Television writer salary $64K
Urban planner salary $58K
Talent director salary $52K
Film director salary $52K
Filmmaker salary $52K
Producer salary $52K
Illustrator salary $43K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)