Earnings of directors vary greatly. Summer theaters offer pay, including "royalties" (based on the number of performances). Total pay ranges from $2,500 to $8,000 for a three- to four-week run of a production. Regional theaters may hire directors for longer periods of time. The highest paid stage directors work on Broadway productions. They commonly earn $100,000 plus royalties per show. Wages also vary for directors of films, from major studio productions to TV films and even commercials. The best known directors earn much more than the median wage.
Producers seldom get a set fee. Instead, they get a percentage of a show's earnings or ticket sales.
Producers and directors seldom earn benefits. However, directors who work regularly may receive typical benefits such as health insurance.
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $29.05 | $40.07 | $52.54 |
| Yearly | $60,436 | $83,350 | $109,296 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $25.96 | $32.82 | $41.61 |
| Yearly | $53,983 | $68,275 | $86,563 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $18.88 | $26.44 | $31.34 |
| Yearly | $39,270 | $54,986 | $65,205 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $31.64 | $41.45 | $60.26 |
| Yearly | $65,809 | $86,211 | $125,346 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $22.41 | $35.04 | $49.58 |
| Yearly | $46,613 | $72,898 | $103,136 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $28.94 | $42.26 | $60.24 |
| Yearly | $60,198 | $87,904 | $125,294 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $31.88 | $45.67 | $55.76 |
| Yearly | $66,302 | $95,003 | $115,986 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $31.69 | $45.98 | $65.27 |
| Yearly | $65,916 | $95,654 | $135,750 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $22.61 | $31.41 | $56.17 |
| Yearly | $47,028 | $65,333 | $116,827 | |
| Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area | Hourly | $15.42 | $24.80 | $27.05 |
| Yearly | $32,073 | $51,564 | $56,249 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $18.92 | $24.34 | $30.63 |
| Yearly | $39,345 | $50,638 | $63,715 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $18.42 | $23.22 | $36.50 |
| Yearly | $38,324 | $48,298 | $75,918 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $17.60 | $23.97 | $27.05 |
| Yearly | $36,607 | $49,857 | $56,249 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $20.39 | $20.39 | $34.18 |
| Yearly | $42,403 | $42,403 | $71,097 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $20.45 | $28.25 | $39.02 |
| Yearly | $42,527 | $58,767 | $81,159 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $39.59 | $49.29 | $61.92 |
| Yearly | $82,336 | $102,526 | $128,786 | |
| United States | Hourly | $30.13 | $43.44 | $64.81 |
| Yearly | $62,670 | $90,360 | $134,800 | |