Music Video Directors and Producers

Music video directors earn approximately 10 percent of a video's operating budget before production fees and insurance costs are factored into the budget. Budgets can range from as little as a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars for the creation of a video for a top artist. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that directors and producers earned median annual salaries of $71,680 in May 2018. The top paid 10 percent earned more than $163,540 and the lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,450. The median annual salary for directors and producers employed in the video and motion picture industries was $104,600. Top directors and producers can earn more than $1 million a year. Directors and producers who work on a freelance basis must pay for their own health insurance as well as the costs of operating a business.