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Production Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Production Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Production Director in the United States is $200,611 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $96.

However, a Production Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $214,714
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $190,365 to $207,993
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $181,037
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Production Director Salaries

A Production Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Production Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Production Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Production Supervisor (7+ years): $80,213
  • Production Senior Supervisor (7+ years): $94,308
  • Production Manager (7+ years): $111,577
  • Production Senior Manager (7+ years): $151,682
  • Production Director (7+ years): $200,611
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Production Supervisor7+ years$80,213
Production Senior Supervisor7+ years$94,308
Production Manager7+ years$111,577
Production Senior Manager7+ years$151,682
Production Director7+ years$200,611
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How Do Production Directors Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Production Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $222,116.
  • California: $221,274.
  • Massachusetts: $218,325.

Top Paying Cities for Production Director

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $253,031
  • San Francisco: $250,260
  • Oakland: $244,986

Production Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Production Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $225,231. While startup companies pay approximate $190,643.

Production Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $190,643
Growth Stage 51~500 $201,594
Established 501~5000 $217,532
Enterprise 5000+ $225,231

Production Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Production Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Production Director positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Production Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Production Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$260,794$125.030%
Financial Services$250,764$121.025%
Software & Networking$240,733$116.020%
Aerospace & Defense$220,672$106.010%
Energy & Utilities$220,672$106.010%

Production Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Production Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$190,365
Average $200,611/year
$207,993
$15,864
Average $16,718/month
$17,333
$3,661
Average $3,858/week
$4,000
$92
Average $96/hour
$100
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $207,993 $17,333 $4,000 $100
Average $200,611 $16,718 $3,858 $96
25th Percentile $190,365 $15,864 $3,661 $92

Most common benefits for Production Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Production Director

Here are companies hiring for Production Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Production Director

1. Where can a Production Director earn the most?

A Production Director's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Production Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Production Director is $253,031.

2. What is the highest pay for Production Director?

The highest pay for Production Director is $214,714.

3. What is the lowest pay for Production Director?

The lowest pay for Production Director is $181,037.

4. What are the responsibilities of Production Director?

Oversees and directs operations of all production areas to ensure that volume, cost, waste, and quality standards are achieved. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to develop overall production schedules, materials, and resource requirements to meet short and long-term production goals. Monitors shift production metrics to identify and resolve issues and develop process improvements and best practices. Plans maintenance, turnarounds, and downtime for efficiency and speed. Establishes staff training processes, equipment, gear, and tool requirements to comply with health and safety regulations. Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to senior management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Production Director?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Production Director roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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