All About Directors
Career Description Interpret script, conduct rehearsals, and direct activities of cast and technical crew for stage, motion pictures, television, or radio programs.
What Do Directors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Cut and edit film or tape to integrate component parts into desired sequences.
- Confer with stage managers to arrange schedules for rehearsals, costume fittings, and sound or light development.
- Choose settings and locations for films and determine how scenes will be shot in these settings.
- Collaborate with producers to hire crew members, such as art directors, cinematographers, and costumer designers.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
- Introduce plays and meet with audiences after shows to explain how the play was interpreted.
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Director Needed Skills
These are the skills Directors say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Video Director
- Production Stage Manager
- Program Arranger
- Television Producer (TV Producer)
- Commercial Director
Is There Going to be Demand for Directors?
There were about 134,700 jobs for Director in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,500 new jobs for Director by 2026. There will be an estimated 14,100 positions for Director per year.

The states with the most job growth for Director are Utah, Georgia, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Directors Salary
Directors make between $34,450 and $163,540 a year.

Directors who work in California, New York, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Directors in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $57,040 |
Alaska | $61,280 |
Arizona | $62,760 |
Arkansas | $58,750 |
California | $115,080 |
Colorado | $68,290 |
Connecticut | $84,900 |
Delaware | $59,680 |
District of Columbia | $89,390 |
Florida | $70,630 |
Georgia | $84,570 |
Hawaii | $73,200 |
Idaho | $55,600 |
Illinois | $77,960 |
Indiana | $48,300 |
Iowa | $46,610 |
Kansas | $56,680 |
Kentucky | $60,530 |
Louisiana | $56,290 |
Maine | $51,310 |
Maryland | $78,760 |
Massachusetts | $70,480 |
Michigan | $65,910 |
Minnesota | $73,110 |
Mississippi | $44,310 |
Missouri | $65,560 |
Montana | $51,920 |
Nebraska | $51,620 |
Nevada | $67,190 |
New Hampshire | $59,830 |
New Jersey | $92,180 |
New Mexico | $75,110 |
New York | $115,610 |
North Carolina | $73,980 |
North Dakota | $42,570 |
Ohio | $60,590 |
Oklahoma | $55,670 |
Oregon | $68,280 |
Pennsylvania | $76,050 |
Rhode Island | $65,660 |
South Carolina | $57,200 |
South Dakota | $55,930 |
Tennessee | $65,040 |
Texas | $69,280 |
Utah | $67,800 |
Vermont | $58,760 |
Virginia | $69,750 |
Washington | $71,430 |
Wisconsin | $57,110 |
Wyoming | $45,930 |
What Tools do Directors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Directors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Extensible markup language XML
- YouTube
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Systems Adobe Audition
- Avid Technology Pro Tools
- Avid Technology Media Composer
- Graphics creation software
- Content management systems CMS
- Avid Technology iNEWS
- Broadcast Electronics AudioVAULT FleX
How do I Become a Director?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Director?

What work experience do I need to become a Director?

Directors Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Director may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Director sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Donald Judge via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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