Jobs Similar to Producers and Directors
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to producers and directors, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Media Programming Directors, Art Directors and Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys.
Producers and Directors: $90,360 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Producers and Directors) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media Programming DirectorsSame group | 80% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Art Directors | 78% | $114,850+27% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | 77% | $47,340−48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Film and Video Editors | 77% | $75,420−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | 77% | $133,660+48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Public Relations Specialists | 76% | $74,750−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Editors | 76% | $77,920−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Music Directors and ComposersSame group | 75% | $73,710−18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Talent DirectorsSame group | 75% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Writers and Authors | 75% | $76,910−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 75% | $62,200−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Public Relations Managers | 74% | $146,910+63% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | 73% | $102,030+13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Advertising Sales Agents | 72% | $64,820−28% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Graphic Designers | 72% | $62,960−30% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | 71% | $82,890−8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | 71% | $61,160−32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 70% | $76,910Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Fundraisers | 70% | $72,550−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Marketing Managers | 70% | $166,790+85% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Media Programming Directors
80% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Art Directors
78% similar · $114,850 (+27%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
77% similar · $47,340 (−48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Film and Video Editors
77% similar · $75,420 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Advertising and Promotions Managers
77% similar · $133,660 (+48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Public Relations Specialists
76% similar · $74,750 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Editors
76% similar · $77,920 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Music Directors and Composers
75% similar · $73,710 (−18%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Talent Directors
75% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Writers and Authors
75% similar · $76,910 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
75% similar · $62,200 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Public Relations Managers
74% similar · $146,910 (+63%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Special Effects Artists and Animators
73% similar · $102,030 (+13%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Advertising Sales Agents
72% similar · $64,820 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 15Graphic Designers
72% similar · $62,960 (−30%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
71% similar · $82,890 (−8%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
71% similar · $61,160 (−32%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
70% similar · $76,910 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Fundraisers
70% similar · $72,550 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Marketing Managers
70% similar · $166,790 (+85%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than producers and directors.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for producers and directors also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where producers and directors is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys (87)
- Film and Video Editors (87)
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (85)
- Editors (83)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators (82)
- Writers and Authors (82)
- Art Directors (81)
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers (80)
- Graphic Designers (76)
- Public Relations Specialists (76)
Questions about jobs like producers and directors
What jobs are most similar to producers and directors?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Media Programming Directors (80% similar), Art Directors (78% similar), Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys (77% similar), Film and Video Editors (77% similar) and Advertising and Promotions Managers (77% similar).
Which jobs like producers and directors pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Marketing Managers ($166,790, +85%; usually a bachelor's degree), Public Relations Managers ($146,910, +63%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Advertising and Promotions Managers ($133,660, +48%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with producers and directors ($90,360). Without more preparation than producers and directors usually need: Marketing Managers, Public Relations Managers and Advertising and Promotions Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.