Media Programming Directors Salary by State
The national median pay for media programming directors is $90,360 a year. By state, it ranges from $38,820 in Arkansas to $129,790 in California. These figures are for the broader BLS group “Producers and Directors”.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $45,780
- 25th percentile
- $62,670
- Median
- $90,360
- 75th percentile
- $134,800
- Top 10%
- $198,540
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job (broader BLS group “Producers and Directors”). About 143,120 jobs.
Median pay in 49 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $129,790 | +44% | $63,570 | $306,850 | 34,110 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $119,840 | +33% | $62,310 | $206,770 | 2,970 |
| 3 | New York | $107,550 | +19% | $61,960 | $222,580 | 27,990 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $104,270 | +15% | $69,260 | $170,490 | 2,640 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $88,260 | −2% | $49,960 | $177,870 | 2,200 |
| 6 | Oregon | $87,460 | −3% | $49,350 | $143,490 | 1,640 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $84,250 | −7% | $43,090 | $136,360 | 560 |
| 8 | Washington | $81,550 | −10% | $47,810 | $167,760 | 2,270 |
| 9 | Illinois | $81,080 | −10% | $41,250 | $169,040 | 3,170 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $80,970 | −10% | $45,820 | $150,140 | 3,440 |
| 11 | Georgia | $79,950 | −12% | $50,540 | $168,740 | 5,010 |
| 12 | Florida | $79,920 | −12% | $46,460 | $164,090 | 7,160 |
| 13 | Maryland | $79,350 | −12% | $43,740 | $148,700 | 1,610 |
| 14 | Nevada | $78,480 | −13% | $38,420 | $164,900 | 1,630 |
| 15 | Colorado | $78,060 | −14% | $45,730 | $134,670 | 1,960 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $76,360 | −15% | $39,800 | $130,750 | 1,390 |
| 17 | Utah | $76,350 | −16% | $36,500 | $168,140 | 1,670 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $75,460 | −16% | $40,700 | $130,560 | 4,200 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $73,020 | −19% | $36,120 | $132,610 | 2,920 |
| 20 | Delaware | $72,650 | −20% | $50,420 | $238,670 | 150 |
| 21 | Texas | $71,710 | −21% | $40,610 | $146,340 | 6,610 |
| 22 | Maine | $71,320 | −21% | $44,000 | $138,230 | 400 |
| 23 | Ohio | $69,350 | −23% | $44,950 | $122,450 | 1,610 |
| 24 | Arizona | $67,320 | −25% | $36,260 | $208,990 | 1,720 |
| 25 | Missouri | $66,460 | −26% | $37,610 | $124,130 | 1,630 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $66,390 | −27% | $38,680 | $130,050 | 1,600 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $66,190 | −27% | $44,230 | $131,490 | 510 |
| 28 | Virginia | $65,900 | −27% | $40,780 | $119,090 | 2,820 |
| 29 | Michigan | $65,720 | −27% | $38,500 | $122,220 | 2,310 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $63,700 | −30% | $34,120 | $133,170 | 3,500 |
| 31 | Alabama | $63,340 | −30% | $39,340 | $107,890 | 1,040 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $62,920 | −30% | $35,750 | $150,220 | 880 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $61,600 | −32% | $38,220 | $102,800 | 770 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $61,560 | −32% | $26,560 | $96,560 | 300 |
| 35 | Idaho | $61,150 | −32% | $38,400 | $128,260 | 380 |
| 36 | Kansas | $60,600 | −33% | $36,260 | $113,050 | 420 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $60,420 | −33% | $36,850 | $85,090 | 130 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $60,260 | −33% | $38,140 | $109,180 | 170 |
| 39 | Indiana | $59,870 | −34% | $37,040 | $96,100 | 1,480 |
| 40 | Iowa | $58,550 | −35% | $36,900 | $101,230 | 720 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $57,870 | −36% | $37,970 | $97,300 | 170 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $56,030 | −38% | $38,760 | $136,360 | 1,190 |
| 43 | Vermont | $55,660 | −38% | $45,180 | $106,760 | 290 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $54,550 | −40% | $35,860 | $95,970 | 950 |
| 45 | Alaska | $54,060 | −40% | $41,600 | $82,890 | 160 |
| 46 | Montana | $52,580 | −42% | $32,570 | $98,820 | 390 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $52,580 | −42% | $33,750 | $101,070 | 470 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $48,100 | −47% | $27,230 | $84,010 | 390 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $46,660 | −48% | $35,700 | $124,880 | 230 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $38,820 | −57% | $24,090 | $76,110 | 700 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates for the broader group “Producers and Directors”. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Media Programming Directors salary questions
Which state pays media programming directors the most?
California, with a median of $129,790 a year (+44% vs. the national median of $90,360). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays media programming directors the least?
Arkansas, with a median of $38,820 a year (−57% vs. national).
Where do most media programming directors work?
California has the most jobs, about 34,110, with a median of $129,790.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.