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Film and Television Studios
Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal
Producers and Directors
These producers and directors spend much of their time finding the right performers, running auditions, reading scripts with the production team, and negotiating terms with agents and companies. The job stands out because one casting choice can shape the whole project, so it mixes creative judgment with scheduling, paperwork, and fast decisions under pressure. It can pay well, but the work is tied to project cycles and the next job is never guaranteed.
Also known as Casting DirectorDirector of CastingCasting ManagerHead of CastingCasting Producer
Median Salary
$83,480
Mean $114,280
U.S. Workforce
~145K
12.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.9%
167K to 175.2K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Producers and Directors sits in the Creative category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~145K workers, with a median annual pay of $83,480 and roughly 12.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 167 K in 2024 to 175.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in film, theater, communications, or business, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Entry-level Casting Assistant and can progress toward Senior Producer / Director. High-value skills usually include Airtable, Google Sheets & Talent Databases, Audition Scheduling & Calendar Management (Google Calendar, Outlook), and Script Breakdown & Role Matching, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Read scripts with the production team to figure out what kinds of performers are needed.
- Set up auditions and screen tests, then keep the schedule organized.
- Meet with actors to judge whether they fit specific roles.
- Keep talent files updated with credits, specialties, and availability.
Keep exploring: more Creative careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Read scripts with the production team to figure out what kinds of performers are needed.
02 Set up auditions and screen tests, then keep the schedule organized.
03 Meet with actors to judge whether they fit specific roles.
04 Keep talent files updated with credits, specialties, and availability.
05 Contact agents and performers to share opportunities and lock in audition times.
06 Work out contract terms with performers, agents, and production companies.
Industries That Hire
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Broadway and Theater Companies
Disney Theatrical Group, Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater
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Streaming Originals
Amazon MGM Studios, Apple Studios, Hulu
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Advertising and Commercial Production
Ogilvy, Wieden+Kennedy, BBDO
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Talent Agencies and Casting Firms
CAA, WME, United Talent Agency
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Median pay is $83,480, and the mean is $114,280, so experienced workers can earn strong money for a creative job.
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There are about 12.8K annual openings, which means steady replacement hiring even though the field is specialized.
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The work is varied day to day: auditions, script reads, interviews, scheduling, and contract talks all show up in the same week.
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You can get into the field with a bachelor's degree and less than 5 years of experience; no formal on-the-job training is usually required.
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You have real influence over who gets hired and how a production feels, which makes the work tangible and visible.
Challenges
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Growth is only 4.9% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is expanding slowly rather than offering a lot of new seats.
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The gap between the mean salary ($114,280) and the median ($83,480) suggests a lot of workers earn far below the top end of the market.
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Work often depends on project schedules, so pay and workload can rise and fall sharply between productions.
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The job requires constant coordination with performers, agents, and producers, which can make decisions slow and stressful when opinions clash.
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This work is concentrated in major entertainment hubs and tied to industry budgets, so it can be hard to build stable long-term momentum without strong contacts or a move into larger productions.
Career Progression
Entry-level Casting Assistant
0-2 years
$38K-$54K
Helps schedule auditions, track talent files, and handle basic paperwork for producers and directors.
Casting Associate
2-5 years
$55K-$79K
Runs more auditions, narrows down candidate lists, and starts handling direct contact with agents and performers.
Producers and Directors THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$80K-$125K
Makes core casting and production calls, balances creative fit with budget and contract terms, and coordinates closely with the production team.
Senior Producer / Director
10+ years
$126K-$180K
Leads casting strategy across larger projects or a department and oversees high-profile negotiations, teams, and long-term talent relationships.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in film, theater, communications, or business
This is the most common entry point, held by 60.76% of workers in this role.
High school diploma plus strong set, theater, or production experience
A smaller share of workers enter this way; 12.98% of workers report a high school diploma as their highest education.
Associate's degree or some college with internships
This is an alternative route, with 8.73% holding an associate's degree and 7.57% reporting some college courses.
Casting or production certificate plus hands-on experience
Short-term training can help build credits and contacts, even though formal on-the-job training is usually not required.
Key Skills
Technical
Airtable, Google Sheets & Talent Databases 84%
Audition Scheduling & Calendar Management (Google Calendar, Outlook) 82%
Script Breakdown & Role Matching 80%
Contract Review & Rights Tracking 78%
Frame.io, Vimeo & Self-Tape Review 76%
Excel, Google Workspace & Production Tracking 74%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingSocial Perceptiveness Job Outlook and Trends
+4.9%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
12.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 167K to 175.2 K over the next decade, representing 4.9% growth. Around 12.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.