The average wage for a film director in the United States is around $33.23 per hour.
Avg Wage
Film directors earn an average hourly wage of $33.23.
Salaries typically start from $16.93 per hour and go up to $65.23 per hour.
20% above national average Updated in 2023
Film director earnings by seniority
Top-level film director earnings begin at:
$65.23 per hour
$135,671 per year
Senior-level film director earnings begin at:
$47.39 per hour
$98,576 per year
Mid-level film director earnings begin at:
$33.23 per hour
$69,126 per year
Junior-level film director earnings begin at:
$23.31 per hour
$48,475 per year
Starting level film director earnings begin at:
$16.93 per hour
$35,221 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Film director salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $99,240 |
| Connecticut | $82,470 |
| District of Columbia | $80,790 |
| Massachusetts | $78,630 |
| Maryland | $78,510 |
| New Jersey | $77,860 |
| Rhode Island | $77,450 |
| Oregon | $73,250 |
| Washington | $72,600 |
| Nevada | $64,430 |
| Virginia | $63,700 |
| New Hampshire | $63,320 |
| Colorado | $63,300 |
| Florida | $62,990 |
| Minnesota | $62,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,340 |
| Tennessee | $62,080 |
| Georgia | $62,070 |
| North Carolina | $61,920 |
| Illinois | $60,820 |
| Utah | $60,820 |
| Ohio | $59,920 |
| Texas | $59,550 |
| South Carolina | $58,890 |
| Arkansas | $58,350 |
| Wisconsin | $55,120 |
| Missouri | $53,980 |
| Arizona | $50,500 |
| Nebraska | $50,460 |
| Delaware | $50,250 |
| Kansas | $50,050 |
| Montana | $49,790 |
| Alaska | $49,600 |
| Wyoming | $49,600 |
| Indiana | $49,390 |
| South Dakota | $49,320 |
| Vermont | $49,260 |
| Michigan | $49,240 |
| Hawaii | $49,070 |
| Alabama | $48,890 |
| North Dakota | $48,790 |
| Kentucky | $48,600 |
| Mississippi | $48,130 |
| Iowa | $47,630 |
| Idaho | $47,480 |
| Maine | $46,290 |
| West Virginia | $44,970 |
| Louisiana | $43,540 |
| Oklahoma | $42,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,590 |
| California | $107,280 |
| New Mexico | $100,640 |
How do film director salaries compare to similar careers?
Film directors earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than casting directors but more than fashion designers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Casting director salary | $86K |
| Film director salary | $69K |
| Talent agent salary | $71K |
| Film producer salary | $68K |
| Art director salary | $64K |
| Fashion designer salary | $57K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)