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.