Producers and Directors pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $172,810 or more. The middle half of producers and directors in Chicago earn between $64,010 and $121,790.
- $44K10th
- $64K25th
- $85KMedian
- $122K75th
- $173K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,930 | $8,411 | $48.52 |
| Median | $85,040 | $7,087 | $40.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,010 | $5,334 | $30.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,790 | $10,149 | $58.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Producers and Directors pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Producers and directors in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($95,920) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($113,300). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $90,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $100,930 | $85,040 | $44,310 | $172,810 | 2,590 |
| Illinois | $95,920 | $81,080 | $41,250 | $169,040 | 3,170 |
| United States | $113,300 | $90,360 | $45,780 | $198,540 | 143,120 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Producers and Directors salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $100,930, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $74,979 a year, or $6,248 a month and $2,884 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $76,836 | $6,403 |
| Working in IL | $74,979 | $6,248 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for producers and directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $100,930 buys what about $97,427 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Producers and Directors salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 4 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for producers and directors
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($159,390).
- Los Angeles, CA$159,390
- San Francisco, CA$157,900
- New York, NY$137,130
- Riverside, CA$124,950
- San Diego, CA$122,920
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Producers and Directors salary in Chicago: questions
How much do producers and directors make an hour in Chicago?
$48.52 an hour on average, and $40.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level producers and directors salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the producers and directors take-home pay in Chicago?
About $74,979 a year ($6,248 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,930.
Do producers and directors earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,300).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-2012; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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