Producers and Directors in Iowa
Considering working as a Producers and Directors in Iowa? Below are the key facts. 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.
What do Producers and Directors Make in Iowa?
The producers and directors working in Iowa, the median annual wage is $50,130 per year (or about $24.10/hour).Annual wages span from $30,870 at the 10th percentile to $90,590 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,870 | $14.84 |
| 25th percentile | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| Median (50th) | $50,130 | $24.10 |
| 75th percentile | $65,760 | $31.62 |
| 90th percentile | $90,590 | $43.55 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Iowa compared to the national average — is 0.42, meaning fewer producers and directors per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, producers and directors earn a median of $90,515 per year ($43.52/hour), below the Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 369,898 producers and directors nationwide. In Iowa alone, about 630 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 1,290 producers and directors.
Top Iowa Metros for Producers and Directors
These are the Iowa metros with the most producers and directors in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 220 | $58,690 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 70 | $55,140 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 70 | $56,950 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 50 | $42,110 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 50 | $57,180 |
| Iowa City, IA | 40 | $65,480 |
Top States for Producers and Directors Employment
The table below shows the states where the most producers and directors work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 35,650 |
| New York | 29,720 |
| Florida | 8,160 |
| Texas | 7,270 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,400 |
| Massachusetts | 3,520 |
| North Carolina | 3,520 |
| Georgia | 3,470 |
| Illinois | 3,380 |
| New Jersey | 3,060 |
| District of Columbia | 2,810 |
| Virginia | 2,800 |
| Washington | 2,710 |
| Connecticut | 2,080 |
| Michigan | 2,010 |
| Maryland | 1,980 |
| Ohio | 1,870 |
| Colorado | 1,870 |
| Tennessee | 1,850 |
| Indiana | 1,670 |
Highest-Paying States for Producers and Directors
Where producers and directors earn the most: producers and directors.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $122,150 |
| New Jersey | $107,850 |
| New York | $104,010 |
| District of Columbia | $99,900 |
| Delaware | $93,930 |
| Connecticut | $85,710 |
| Florida | $81,240 |
| Oregon | $80,610 |
| Washington | $79,220 |
| Massachusetts | $79,100 |
Skills
The most important producers and directors skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for producers and directors, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Producers and Directors typically:
- 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.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
- Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
- Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
- Perform management activities, such as budgeting, scheduling, planning, and marketing.
- Consult with writers, producers, or actors about script changes or "workshop" scripts, through rehearsal with writers and actors to create final drafts.
- Identify and approve equipment and elements required for productions, such as scenery, lights, props, costumes, choreography, and music.
- Establish pace of programs and sequences of scenes according to time requirements and cast and set accessibility.
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
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Scheduling Work and Activities
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign In-demand technologies: Adobe After Effects
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Film, Video & Photographic Arts
- Drama & Theater Arts
- Arts & Media Management
- Radio, TV & Digital Communication
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like producers and directors include:
- Project Management Specialists
- Video Game Designers
- Art Directors
- Special Effects Artists and Animators
- Graphic Designers
- Actors
Also Known As
Animation Director, Animation Producer, Art Framing Manager, Artistic Director, Broadcast News Producer, Broadcast Producer, Casting Director, Commercial Director, Content Producer, Creative Director, Creative Producer, Digital Media Manager, Digital Media Producer, Digital Producer, Director.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-2012.00