Media and Entertainment Pay: Creative Roles and Freelance Income (US Data)
US wage data for producers, directors, editors, writers, camera operators, designers and journalists, and why project-based work makes annual figures harder to read.
Published by SalaryBases. Drafted with AI assistance and revised to remove or reword figures we could not trace to a source. Not reviewed by a licensed professional. Pay figures come only from the official datasets named beside each table and apply only to the country, year and definition stated there. Methodology
Media and entertainment work is often project-based, freelance or union-scaled, which makes a single annual salary a poor description of many careers. This guide uses official US data where it exists and explains why some roles do not have an annual figure at all.
What US government data shows
| Occupation (SOC) | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Producers and Directors (27-2012) | $45,780 | $90,360 | $198,540 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (13-1011) | $48,010 | $82,890 | $284,570 |
| Editors (27-3041) | $41,250 | $77,920 | $153,700 |
| Writers and Authors (27-3043) | $44,310 | $76,910 | $139,870 |
| Film and Video Editors (27-4032) | $40,280 | $75,420 | $148,550 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (27-4031) | $38,520 | $74,990 | $135,180 |
| Graphic Designers (27-1024) | $39,520 | $62,960 | $104,910 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (27-3023) | $36,240 | $62,200 | $144,140 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Scope: United States, national estimates, all industries, annual wages in US dollars (retrieved 9 October 2026). The median is the middle wage: half of the workers in the occupation earn more and half earn less; 10th/90th percentile mean 10% earn less/more. The survey covers wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments and excludes the self-employed, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, equity and employer benefit costs. BLS methodology.
Producers and directors have a median of $90,360, with a 10th to 90th percentile range of $45,780 to $198,540. Agents and business managers of artists, performers and athletes have a median of $82,890 and a 90th percentile of $284,570. Editors have a median of $77,920, writers and authors $76,910, film and video editors $75,420 and camera operators $74,990. Graphic designers have a median of $62,960 and news analysts, reporters and journalists $62,200.
Why some roles have no annual figure
BLS notes that some entertainment workers are paid hourly and generally do not work 40 hours a week all year. For those workers, only an hourly wage is reported. Actors are an example: there is no annual figure to quote, and an hourly rate says little about annual income when work is intermittent.
What the data leaves out
- Self-employed and freelance income is not covered. Much media work is freelance or contract work, where annual income depends on how many projects you win and how long the gaps between them last.
- Union scales: many film, television and theatre workers are covered by guild or union agreements that set minimum rates and conditions. Those unions publish their schedules, so check the one that applies to your role.
- Residuals and royalties: some agreements pay additional amounts when work is reused or sold again. These depend on the contract and are not in wage statistics.
- Hours: long and irregular hours on productions are common in some segments; ask about them.
How to read these numbers
Use the range, not just the median, because a few high earners pull the 90th percentile far above the middle. Remember that annual figures hide project gaps. If you are freelancing, work out what rate you need to cover non-billable time, taxes and benefits with the Freelancer Rate Calculator.
Related guides
Software, data and design roles in gaming and streaming are counted under technology occupations in our tech industry guide. For negotiating project and contract terms, see Salary Negotiation: The Complete Guide.
Key takeaways
- US medians for the listed media occupations run from $62,200 (journalists) to $90,360 (producers and directors).
- Some performers have only hourly figures because their work is intermittent.
- Freelance income, union scales and residuals are not in the wage statistics.
- Plan around the range, not only the median, and budget for gaps between projects.
Sources used in this guide
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025: methodology and tables — Every wage figure in the tables above (each row links to its own BLS occupation profile).