Film and Television Directors

Directors' salaries vary greatly. Those just starting out in the industry might earn less than $10,000 a year, while big-name Hollywood directors can earn tens of millions of dollars annually. Most Hollywood film directors are members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and salaries (as well as hours of work and other employment conditions) are usually negotiated by this union. Generally, contracts provide for minimum weekly salaries. Keep in mind that because directors are freelancers, they may have no income for many weeks out of the year.

Although contracts usually provide only for the minimum rate of pay, most directors earn more, and they often negotiate extra conditions. Top directors often take the minimum salary required by the union for directing a film but also receive 5 to 10 percent of the film's gross receipts.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual salary of all directors and producers was $82,510 in May 2023. Salaries ranged from less than $42,040 to more than $174,540. Directors employed in television broadcasting earned mean annual salaries of $71,710; in media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers, $109,010; and in the motion picture and video industries, $130,620.

Directors working under DGA contracts also receive paid vacation days, lodging and meals while filming, and access to pension and health insurance plans.