The average salary for a film director in California is around $129,790 per year.
Avg Salary
Film directors earn an average yearly salary of $129,790.
Wages typically start from $63,570 and go up to $306,850.
92% above national average Updated in 2025
Film director earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level film director earnings begin at:
$147.52 per hour
$306,850 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level film director earnings begin at:
$82.89 per hour
$172,410 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level film director earnings begin at:
$62.40 per hour
$129,790 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level film director earnings begin at:
$39.96 per hour
$83,110 per year
10th percentile
Starting level film director earnings begin at:
$30.56 per hour
$63,570 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Film director salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $88,260 |
| Oregon | $87,460 |
| Rhode Island | $84,250 |
| Washington | $81,550 |
| Illinois | $81,080 |
| Massachusetts | $80,970 |
| Georgia | $79,950 |
| Florida | $79,920 |
| Maryland | $79,350 |
| Nevada | $78,480 |
| Colorado | $78,060 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 |
| Utah | $76,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,460 |
| Tennessee | $73,020 |
| Delaware | $72,650 |
| Texas | $71,710 |
| Maine | $71,320 |
| Ohio | $69,350 |
| Arizona | $67,320 |
| Missouri | $66,460 |
| Wisconsin | $66,390 |
| Hawaii | $66,190 |
| Virginia | $65,900 |
| Michigan | $65,720 |
| North Carolina | $63,700 |
| Alabama | $63,340 |
| Louisiana | $62,920 |
| Oklahoma | $61,600 |
| New Hampshire | $61,560 |
| Idaho | $61,150 |
| Kansas | $60,600 |
| Wyoming | $60,420 |
| South Dakota | $60,260 |
| Indiana | $59,870 |
| Iowa | $58,550 |
| North Dakota | $57,870 |
| South Carolina | $56,030 |
| Vermont | $55,660 |
| Kentucky | $54,550 |
| Alaska | $54,060 |
| New Mexico | $54,030 |
| Montana | $52,580 |
| Nebraska | $52,580 |
| Mississippi | $48,100 |
| West Virginia | $46,660 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,260 |
| Arkansas | $38,820 |
| California | $129,790 |
| New Jersey | $119,840 |
| New York | $107,550 |
| District of Columbia | $104,270 |
How do film director salaries compare to similar careers?
Film directors earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than art directors but more than make-up artists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Art director salary | $138K |
| Talent director salary | $130K |
| Filmmaker salary | $130K |
| Producer salary | $130K |
| Film director salary | $130K |
| Make-Up artist salary | $141K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)