National Salary Info » Actors, Producers, and Directors

Highest Paying Industries for Actors, Producers, and Directors

The top 100 highest paying industries for actors, producers, and directors (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $172,310, communications equipment manufacturing is the highest paying industry for actors, producers, and directors. It is followed by computer and electronic product manufacturing industry (average annual salary $140,830). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of actors, producers, and directors in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Actors, Producers, and Directors

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$172,310	$67,120	60
2	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$140,830	$43,430	70
3	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$98,120	$35,770	90
4	Manufacturing	$92,470	$40,480	140
5	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$90,270	$42,550	7,140
6	Wholesale Trade	$86,560	$36,450	130
7	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$84,260	$23,310	14,950
8	Software Publishers	$83,860	$46,680	500
9	Federal government, including USPS	$83,400	$57,980	1,020
10	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$83,400	$57,980	1,010
11	Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations	$82,350	$37,070	230
12	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$81,680	$47,350	430
13	Telecommunications	$81,550	$37,920	780
14	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$81,280	$37,950	770
15	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$79,150	$47,860	670
16	Specialized Design Services	$78,490	$45,270	470
17	Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	$77,160	$18,870	6,020
18	Other Information Services	$77,020	$31,830	1,930
19	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$72,490	$38,410	1,240
20	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$71,520	$41,780	2,060
21	Federal, State, and Local Government	$71,520	$41,780	2,060
22	Scientific Research and Development Services	$70,340	$43,040	40
23	Retail Trade	$70,260	$39,730	370
24	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$69,050	$38,410	610
25	Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses	$68,770	$39,730	350
26	Nonstore Retailers	$68,770	$39,730	350
27	Gambling Industries	$67,850	$24,100	30
28	Grantmaking and Giving Services	$67,820	$22,560	160
29	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$66,860	$35,750	3,510
30	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$66,320	$20,240	6,820
31	Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing	$65,580	$34,240	40
32	Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures	$65,390	$21,120	640
33	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	$65,140	$28,770	150
34	Social Advocacy Organizations	$64,910	$24,570	n/a
35	Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers	$64,750	$34,410	740
36	Motion Picture and Video Industries	$64,230	$22,700	66,810
37	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$63,990	$22,770	67,600
38	Rental and Leasing Services	$63,150	$24,960	110
39	Other Personal Services	$62,760	$31,930	40
40	Personal and Laundry Services	$62,760	$31,930	40
41	Information	$62,430	$24,860	99,930
42	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$61,110	$26,730	1,110
43	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$61,050	$26,680	1,080
44	Television Broadcasting	$60,600	$28,620	19,100
45	Newspaper Publishers	$59,620	$32,640	310
46	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Privately owned	$59,260	$31,930	70
47	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$59,100	$33,260	4,320
48	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$58,940	$38,240	480
49	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$58,490	$28,510	28,370
50	Junior colleges - Local government owned	$58,250	$35,250	260
51	Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services	$57,600	$28,120	40
52	Casino Hotels	$57,560	$42,600	n/a
53	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$57,300	$30,920	570
54	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$57,220	$27,820	24,870
55	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$55,840	$29,420	1,220
56	Junior Colleges (including private, state, and local government schools)	$54,960	$34,260	350
57	Sound Recording Industries	$54,050	$29,090	790
58	Educational Services - Local government owned	$53,740	$29,010	630
59	Spectator Sports	$53,670	$21,530	580
60	Elementary and Secondary Schools	$52,220	$27,760	420
61	State government, including schools and hospitals	$51,370	$31,890	2,080
62	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	$50,090	$27,650	360
63	Educational Services - State government owned	$49,210	$29,960	1,600
64	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$49,010	$24,670	160
65	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$48,950	$29,020	1,440
66	Business Schools and Computer and Management Training	$48,860	$17,370	210
67	Transportation and Warehousing	$48,780	$27,830	40
68	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$48,450	$31,890	n/a
69	Junior colleges - State government owned	$48,430	$32,170	90
70	Other Support Services	$48,270	$34,070	90
71	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$48,260	$27,350	2,770
72	Radio Broadcasting	$48,030	$25,730	5,770
73	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$47,670	$19,900	2,090
74	Outpatient Care Centers	$47,370	$28,860	n/a
75	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$47,220	$19,050	24,460
76	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$47,170	$26,540	1,320
77	Religious Organizations	$47,140	$28,010	170
78	Educational Services	$46,050	$23,560	5,460
79	Photographic Services	$45,460	$22,560	120
80	Finance and Insurance	$44,910	$17,460	100
81	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$44,070	$18,810	28,530
82	Business schools and computer and management training - Privately owned	$43,820	$16,850	150
83	Other Amusement and Recreation Industries	$43,630	$17,920	720
84	Civic and Social Organizations	$42,540	$26,360	180
85	Educational Services - Privately owned	$42,040	$19,970	3,230
86	Hospitals - Privately owned	$41,330	$31,740	n/a
87	Performing Arts Companies	$41,000	$18,570	14,330
88	Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters	$39,710	$18,560	13,190
89	Health Care and Social Assistance	$39,240	$31,820	n/a
90	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$38,930	$31,680	n/a
91	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$38,560	$31,610	n/a
92	Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers	$38,360	$18,080	60
93	Other schools and instruction - Privately owned	$38,200	$19,260	1,560
94	Other Schools and Instruction	$38,180	$19,270	1,560
95	Ambulatory Health Care Services	$38,090	$31,750	n/a
96	Offices of Physicians	$36,930	$31,870	130
97	Food Services and Drinking Places	$35,760	$27,100	n/a
98	Restaurants and Other Eating Places	$35,400	$27,000	n/a
99	Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries	$35,000	$19,090	2,700
100	Amusement Parks and Arcades	$33,470	$20,160	1,950