Producers and Directors Salary
The median pay for a producers and directors in Tennessee is $73,020/year ($35.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $81,332 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Tennessee?
About producers and directors
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for producers and directors in Tennessee runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $90K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 24.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for producers and directorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level producers and directors (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Producers and Directors salary by metro in Tennessee
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $80K | +9% | 1,830 |
| Chattanooga | $62K | -16% | 160 |
| Memphis | $60K | -17% | 240 |
| Knoxville | $59K | -20% | 290 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $43K | -40% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track producers and directors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a producers and director afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 24.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for producers and directors in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new producers and directors typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,167/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is producers and director a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $73K here vs. $90K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for producers and directors?
Tennessee pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do producers and directors make in Tennessee?
The median is $73,020 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,120, and experienced producers and directors can clear $132,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,980/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 24.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a producers and directors salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median producers and directors salary is worth about $81,332 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do producers and directors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.