Profession · Full profile

Producer

Producers develop creative concepts, secure financing, manage production budgets, and oversee media projects.

Average salary

$90,360

Salary range

$45,780 – $198,540

Training time

Several years to 4 years full time

Job market

As fast as average

6/10

Work-life balance

Demanding

4/10

Producers guide media projects from concept to completion across film, television, audio, and advertising. They develop ideas, secure funding, oversee budgets, hire directors and crews, and coordinate shooting schedules. During filming and post-production, they keep work on schedule and within budget, then manage delivery to distributors or clients. Official pay and job figures cover producers and directors together. The work is mostly full time on a project basis, demanding leadership, strong negotiation skills, and composure during tight production deadlines.

A workday

A day in the life

What does a workday really look like?

A planning day focused on budgeting, hiring, and scheduling ahead of filming.

8:30 AM
Schedule and script review
Review script revisions and check the latest shooting calendar against available shoot days.
9:30 AM
Budget tracking
Update line-item production costs and track committed expenditures across departments.
11:00 AM
Director and department head meeting
Meet with the director and key crew to coordinate equipment packages and location needs.
1:00 PM
Vendor and crew contract negotiation
Speak with talent agents and rental vendors to negotiate deal points and permit timelines.
2:30 PM
Financing and investor call
Update project financiers on current production milestones, cash flow, and scheduled filming dates.
4:00 PM
Location and permit review
Confirm filming permits and municipal clearances for upcoming location shoots.
5:30 PM
Production log wrap-up
Approve purchase orders, organize call sheets, and set priorities for tomorrow.

Task breakdown

A long day managing filming operations, crew needs, and production logistics directly on location.

6:00 AM
Call time and set arrival
Arrive at the filming location to check set readiness, equipment setup, and catering.
7:00 AM
Morning crew briefing
Meet with the director, assistant director, and camera team to review scenes on the day call sheet.
8:30 AM
Filming supervision
Observe principal photography from video village, tracking timing against the daily shooting schedule.
12:30 PM
On-set production meeting
Address midday schedule adjustments, weather delays, and overtime concerns with department heads.
2:00 PM
Afternoon shoot management
Coordinate location moves, incoming background actors, and transport logistics for subsequent setups.
6:00 PM
Camera wrap and footage delivery
Confirm the completion of planned scenes and supervise the handoff of recorded footage for backup.
7:30 PM
Daily wrap and daily production report
Review the daily production report with the production coordinator and approve the next day call sheet.

Salary data

What do you really earn?

Salary by experience, sector and region.

Minimum

$45,780

Average

$90,360

Maximum

$198,540

Salary by region

Region	Min	Avg.	Max
National	$45,780	$90,360	$198,540
California	$63,570	$129,790	$306,850
New York	$61,960	$107,550	$222,580
Florida	$46,460	$79,920	$164,090
Texas	$40,610	$71,710	$146,340
Georgia	$50,540	$79,950	$168,740

Typical benefits

Creative control over projects

Producers have the authority to shape stories, select creative collaborators, and approve final cuts.

Producer credits

Screen credits build a verifiable professional portfolio and open doors to larger future productions.

Union and guild health coverage

Eligible members can access comprehensive health insurance plans through industry guilds and unions.

Travel to filming locations

Shoots provide opportunities to travel nationally and internationally to oversee sets and scout venues.

Pathways

Education pathways

Which paths lead to this profession?

Bachelor's degree

4 years full time

Bachelor's degree in film, broadcasting, communications or media production

Undergraduate programs provide hands-on experience through student films, studio equipment labs, and media theory. Students often complete production internships during their studies, which serve as a common gateway to entry-level jobs.

Costs: About $11,950 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public four-year college for in-state students, and $45,000 at a private nonprofit four-year college
Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

Master's degree

2 to 3 years

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in producing or film production

Graduate programs offer intensive training in creative producing, project financing, and entertainment law. Some curricula focus specifically on the business side of media production and connecting students with industry networks.

Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree, often with a portfolio

On-the-job training

Several years

Work your way up from production assistant

Many producers bypass formal film degrees by starting on set as production assistants or coordinators. Hands-on experience, demonstrated reliability, verified project credits, and working relationships drive advancement into producing roles.

Costs: Paid by the employer
Entry requirements: No formal requirement; on-set experience matters most

Profile

Skills & personality

Is this a good fit for you?

Hard skills

Production budgetingBuilding and tracking detailed line-item budgets to keep projects financially solvent from pre-production to delivery.
Scheduling and logisticsCoordinating complex shooting calendars, gear rentals, transportation, and filming locations.
Contract negotiationStructuring deals with talent, directors, crew members, equipment vendors, and distributors.
Script and story developmentEvaluating treatments, scripts, and concepts to assess audience appeal and commercial viability.
Rights clearances and permitsSecuring municipal filming permits, intellectual property rights, and insurance paperwork.
Knowledge of video editing workflowsUnderstanding post-production editing pipelines, color grading, sound design, and delivery formats.

Soft skills

LeadershipGuiding diverse creative and technical teams toward a common vision under tight timelines.
Problem solving under pressureResolving sudden budget shortfalls, weather disruptions, and location losses during live shoots.
CommunicationTranslating project expectations clearly between creative artists, technicians, and financial investors.
NetworkingCultivating relationships with writers, directors, studio executives, and funding partners across the industry.

Is this a good fit for you?

✓
DecisiveAble to make fast, binding choices about personnel, creative direction, and expenses when schedules run tight.
✓
ResourcefulSkilled at stretching budgets, solving unexpected operational hitches, and finding alternative solutions on set.
✓
ComposedMaintains focus and a steady demeanor during chaotic shoots, broadcast errors, and pressing deadlines.
✓
OrganizedManages dozens of concurrent tasks, schedules, and vendor agreements without losing track of details.
✓
PersuasiveConvincing when pitching projects to investors, inspiring creative teams, and negotiating vendor terms.

Market

Job market & outlook

What does the market look like?

Openings per year

12,100

Trend

Growth

+4%

AI impact

4/10

AI tools speed up scheduling, budgeting drafts, transcription and rough edits. Creative judgment, financing deals and leading people on set remain human work.

Regional demand

California

Serves as the primary production hub for major film studios, streaming platforms, and television networks.

10/10

New York

Features sustained demand across broadcast television networks, commercial advertising agencies, and independent film productions.

10/10

Georgia

Provides steady production activity supported by major studio facilities and feature film shoots.

6/10

Florida

Maintains commercial video, broadcast media, and corporate production opportunities.

4/10

Texas

Offers employment through corporate media teams, independent productions, and regional commercial agencies.

3/10

Growth

Career paths

Where can this profession take you?

Vertical growth

Production assistant
0-2 years
Run daily errands on set, distribute call sheets, coordinate lunch, and assist department heads during shoots.
Associate producer or production coordinator
2-5 years
Manage paperwork, book travel, coordinate equipment rentals, and assist with production scheduling and budgets.
Producer
5-10 years
Supervise projects from conception through post-production, manage overall budgets, hire key personnel, and approve edits.
Executive producer
10+ years
Secure primary financing, package major talent, supervise multiple production slates, and guide high-level studio relationships.

Horizontal move

Video editor
Transition horizontally into post-production by assembling footage, pacing narrative cuts, and managing finishing workflows.
View Video Editor
Advertising manager
Apply project planning and creative leadership horizontally to direct promotional campaigns and marketing agency accounts.
View Advertising Manager

Good to know

Practical info

Working hours: Mostly full time on a project basis, with long days and frequent overtime during shoots and close to deadlines.
Remote work: Development, budgeting and post-production work can often be done remotely, but shoots and live productions require being on set.
Physical requirements: Mostly office and studio work, with long hours on set, travel to locations and outdoor shoots in all kinds of weather.
Typical employers: Film and video production companies, television and radio broadcasters, streaming services, advertising and marketing agencies, corporate in-house video teams, and self-employed or freelance setups.
Professional associations: Producers Guild of America

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does a producer do on a media project?

A producer oversees a film, television, video, or audio project from the earliest concept through distribution. They find scripts, secure financing, build production budgets, hire key directors and crew, and obtain filming permits. During production and post-production, producers keep the project on schedule, resolve operational issues, and approve the final cut before delivering it to networks, streaming services, or clients.

Do you need a college degree to become a producer?

No formal degree is strictly required to work as a producer in the media industry. Many professionals learn the trade by working as production assistants or coordinators on active sets. However, completing a bachelor's degree in film, broadcasting, or communications can give you technical knowledge, student film experience, and valuable internship contacts that help you find your initial opportunities.

What is the difference between a producer and a director?

A producer manages the business and organizational execution, whereas a director guides the artistic vision on set. The producer secures financing, manages the overall budget, hires the crew, and handles logistics. The director works under the producer to block camera angles, direct actors, and shape the aesthetic tone, while the producer ensures the shoot stays on schedule and approves the final edit.

Can producers work remotely from home?

Producers can handle development, budgeting, and post-production reviews remotely, but shoots require on-site supervision. During initial concept development and post-production editing, digital tools allow remote coordination with writers, editors, and clients. However, principal photography, live broadcast tapings, and location shoots demand long hours directly on set to coordinate crew operations, resolve immediate disruptions, and oversee filming in real time.

What hours do producers typically work during production?

Producers often work long, irregular hours that extend into evenings, weekends, and early mornings. While development involves regular office hours, active shooting schedules demand overtime and continuous presence on set. Broadcast producers might work overnight or dawn shifts to produce live morning television. Work is also project based, meaning freelance producers frequently experience downtime between completed assignments.

What skills are most critical for a producer to succeed?

Key skills include production budgeting, contract negotiation, scheduling logistics, and clear communication under pressure. Producers must understand post-production editing workflows, script development, and municipal permit clearances. On set, strong leadership and quick problem-solving help them handle unexpected weather delays or equipment failures. Networking is equally vital for securing funding, hiring top creative talent, and pitching projects to distributors.

How does artificial intelligence impact the work of a producer?

Artificial intelligence tools speed up administrative tasks such as initial scheduling drafts, budgeting outlines, transcription, and rough editing passes. However, core human skills remain essential to the profession. Securing investment capital, negotiating sensitive talent contracts, exercising creative taste, and managing cast and crew members on physical sets cannot be replaced by software and require direct human judgment.

Related professions

In depth

All about producer

The background, context and details.

What media producers do

Producers develop ideas for films, TV shows, videos, or podcasts and decide which projects to pursue. They secure funding and manage the entire production budget from start to finish. They hire directors, cast, crew, and vendors while negotiating all of their employment contracts. Because a producer carries final operational and financial accountability for a project, building shooting schedules, arranging permits, reserving equipment, and scouting filming locations require constant supervision to keep the production on schedule and on budget. Costs require constant vigilance. During filming and post-production, producers oversee operations to ensure that creative goals align with practical schedules. They approve final edits before collaborating with distributors, networks, or clients on project delivery. Every finished project yields credits.

Schedules on set and in production

Daily work routines depend heavily on the production phase. Early script development, budgeting, and post-production can often be completed remotely from a home office. Shoots require being on set. Filming involves long days and frequent overtime, especially when crews face tight delivery deadlines. Work often extends late into evenings and weekends. Studio productions and outdoor shoots expose crews to all kinds of weather and frequent travel to remote filming locations. Live broadcast producers work differently. They often work early morning or night shifts to keep live broadcasts on schedule. Freelancers face periods between projects.

Work settings across media industries

Producers work in commercial agencies and production studios. Work is project based. Typical employers across the sector include:

Film and video production companies
Television and radio broadcasters
Streaming services
Advertising and marketing agencies
Corporate in-house video teams
Self-employed and freelance businesses

Many experienced producers operate as independent freelancers, choosing which commercial or narrative ventures to back.

Paths into the production industry

Education routes vary across the entertainment industry. College is not required. Many aspiring producers complete a four-year bachelor's degree in film, broadcasting, communications, or media production, where they work on student films and secure internships that introduce them to working professionals. Others earn a master of fine arts in producing to focus specifically on the business side of production finance and entertainment contracts. Even so, hands-on crew experience remains the most common entry route. Starting as an entry-level production assistant allows newcomers to learn how sets operate under pressure while gathering verified screen credits and building industry contacts that drive career advancement over several years. Technology changes production workflows. AI tools speed up scheduling, budgeting drafts, transcription, and rough edits, but creative judgment and leading people on set remain human work. Join the Producers Guild of America to access industry health coverage and build professional connections.