Producers and Directors

Overview

Producers and Directors has a national median salary of $90,360 per year, with +4% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Independence
• Recognition
• Achievement

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
• Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
• Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
• Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
• Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Thinking Creatively
• Working with Computers
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Processing Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Detailed Work Activities

• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a master's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Master's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a bachelor's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Producers and Directors:

Video Resources