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Job outlook for digital media producers in the United States
Digital media producer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected digital media producer job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 12,800 new jobs for digital media producers are projected over the next decade.
Digital media producer salaries have increased 8% for digital media producers in the last 5 years.
There are over 11,152 digital media producers currently employed in the United States.
There are 33,263 active digital media producer job openings in the US.
The average digital media producer salary is $54,073.
Are digital media producer jobs in demand?
Digital media producer job and salary trends over time
Digital media producer jobs over time
Digital media producer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,152 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 10,973 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 11,109 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 10,750 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 10,532 | 0.00% |
Average digital media producer salary over time
Digital media producer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,073 | $26.00 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $52,672 | $25.32 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $50,733 | $24.39 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $50,690 | $24.37 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $50,216 | $24.14 | +3.7% |
Digital media producer jobs by state
Most common states for digital media producers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 241 | 35% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 91 | 15% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 114 | 12% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 672 | 10% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 296 | 10% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 109 | 10% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 59 | 10% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 69 | 9% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,635 | 8% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 105 | 8% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 66 | 8% |
| 12 | Alaska | 739,795 | 58 | 8% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 906 | 7% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 420 | 7% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 374 | 7% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 288 | 7% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 255 | 7% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 118 | 7% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 93 | 7% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 75 | 7% |
Most common cities for digital media producers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake City | 1 | 1% | $44,083 |
| 2 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $39,451 |
| 3 | New York | 1 | 0% | $60,684 |
Digital Media Producer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of digital media producer experts
Furman University
Olympic College
Duquesne University
Dominican University of California
University of Toledo
Susquehanna University
California Baptist University
Cedar Crest College
California Lutheran University
Andrews University
West Virginia State University
Iowa State University
Temple University
Webster University
Columbia College Chicago
Drexel University
Montclair State University
Baylor University
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Professor Margaret Oakes
Professor of EnglishFurman University
English Language And Literature
What will help Digital Media Producers increase their earning potential?
Professor Margaret Oakes: Our graduates have such a variety of careers with an English major that this is hard to answer. But perhaps this is the answer - English majors have such widely applicable skills that they need to be alert to how they can be applied almost anywhere, and be prepared to sell their skills to a potential employer.
Amy Hesketh
Full Time FacultyOlympic College
Social Sciences & Humanities (SSH) Division
What soft skills should all Digital Media Producers possess?
Amy Hesketh: -Collaboration.
-Teamwork.
-Project management.
-Crew management.
-Professionalism.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Digital Media Producers?
Amy Hesketh: -Film production.
-Videography.
-Video editing.
-Video streaming.
-Budgeting.
-Scheduling.
What skills stand out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Amy Hesketh: Ability to work with a variety of editing software (Avid, Adobe Premiere Pro/Audition, Resolve). Screenwriting and story development.
What skills will help Digital Media Producers earn the most?
Amy Hesketh: -Certification in DaVinci Resolve.
-Motion graphics.
-Ability to create a finished, professional video from script to screen.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Digital Media Producers?
Dr. Mike Dillon: Media is about storytelling -- whether it's an ad, a social media campaign, a magazine story, etc. Being able to use the tools of your trade, whatever they may be -- algorithms, editing suites, etc. The most important skill, though, is understanding the essence of those tools -- what is they are intended to accomplish. If you understand that, you can easily adapt when tools change -- which they frequently do.
What skills will help Digital Media Producers earn the most?
Dr. Mike Dillon: To not think and act in a silo, to adapt and be in a position when new opportunities arise, even if they are not in a seeming linear line from where you might be at the moment. A person who is a critical thinker with technical skills is more valuable than a person who is adept at doing what they're told with technology but has no larger sense of the how or why they use tools.
What skills stand out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Dr. Mike Dillon: Evidence (courses, internships, other experience) that demonstrates competence in communicating with a wide array of audiences across multiple platforms. Our journalism program, for instance, is multiplatform: students learn to write, edit, shoot video, create podcasts, adapt stories to fit the requirements of multiple platforms, etc. Basically, we want to send students out of here like Swiss Army Knives -- able to work in their area of proficiency, be that writing or videography, but also adept with a wide variety of other competencies.
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Communications, Coordinator, Online Learning and Development, Chair of the Communications and Media Studies DepartmentDominican University of California
Communication and Media Studies
What hard/technical skills are most important for Digital Media Producers?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: Video (shooting and editing), audio applications that allow you to produce and edit sound, and social media literacy.
What skills will help Digital Media Producers earn the most?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: The hard skills (audio and video) usually get you the job, but the soft skills allow you to keep it and grow!
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Producer job market given the pandemic?
Deborah Orloff: Working remotely and meeting via Zoom (and similar video conferencing platforms) is obviously a huge trend, and I expect it to continue.
What skills stand out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Deborah Orloff: Flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing situations and new technology has become more important than ever! Creativity and entrepreneurship are also very important!
Craig Stark Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Communications, Department Head of CommunicationsSusquehanna University
Communications Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Producer job market given the pandemic?
Craig Stark Ph.D.: Probably more remote work opportunities. I would expect many employers will find it more cost-effective to have employees work from home or remote sites, which means employees have to have a good working knowledge of time management and technical skills.
What Digital Media Producer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Craig Stark Ph.D.: If a graduate needs to take a gap year from work, the best thing I think they could do is stay involved with the industry. Subscribe to email and text updates from trade magazines, follow regulatory agencies like the FCC and FTC online, and stay in touch. Maintain contact with anyone that you've networked with and attend any virtual job fairs or conferences that you can. Use the time to practice and hone any technical or professional skills that you're interested in. The most important thing is to stay up-to-date and involved as much as you can, so that when the gap year is over it will be easier to get back into the swing.
What general advice would you give to a Digital Media Producer?
Craig Stark Ph.D.: Be flexible and willing to change goals and perspectives. The industry is constantly changing and evolving but fortunately you can do anything with a communications degree. Use that flexibility to your advantage and do the best you can to prepare for any industrial, professional, and personal changes in your life.
What experience really stands out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
MaryAnn Pearson: Resumes that include work with student publications (newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks) and links to published articles stand out. Students who have participated in internships also stand out as they show experience.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Media Producers?
Dr. Jill Purdy: Yes, without a doubt. These students have faced difficult times socially and academically. My take is that they will be a bit more resilient on the other side of this pandemic. However, these graduates may have a more difficult time gaining employment with the financial crisis that has accompanied the pandemic.
I believe there will be social impacts as well. Living through isolation and quarantine changed their methods of communication. Their education was like no other time, leaving these students without the support they needed. Yet, somehow most students seemed to accept the challenge for the most part.
What experience really stands out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Dr. Jill Purdy: "This is partially answered previously. I think students found time to be more self-reliant and independent. Hopefully, not to a fault as they move into their careers.
On resumes, we may see more of the soft skills described. It may sound counterintuitive, but I think a different kind of interpersonal skill was developed. On a Zoom call, what do we have but people and we have to figure out how to get our message across, collaborate, debate, and communicate effectively without extraneous factors. "
What experience really stands out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler Ph.D.: I would say this is dependent on the type of company or industry. If graduates from big, national, or international employers, it is essential to make it past the artificial intelligence filters. These companies get thousands of resumes weekly, so everything that makes an applicant unique - internships with other large, recognizable companies, projects that show deep subject matter expertise - helps. For smaller, regional companies, it is probably more important to show that one is part of a community and has good networking skills.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Media Producers?
Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler Ph.D.: The pandemic has slowed down hiring for recent graduates in some areas, but not in all. For those recent graduates who have not found employment during the most recent months, it'll be essential to show companies how they have made the best use of that time. For instance, additional courses that they have taken, non-profit volunteering, events they have attended, such as start-up weekends, or having started innovative projects of their own.
What type of skills will young Digital Media Producers need?
Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler Ph.D.: The pandemic's one good thing is that recent graduates will have learned to be flexible, agile, and resilient. These are skill sets that will remain invaluable for companies in the future. Companies will need graduates who are creative problem-solvers and excellent communicators. But it's undoubtedly also crucial that everyone develops strong skillsets around data, which is the most important currency of the economy these days.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Producer job market given the pandemic?
Kimberly Pichot: I see two marketing areas that have grown during the pandemic: First, graduates with a strong background in digital and social marketing will have an advantage over other marketing students' groups. Second, graduates with robust analytics, market research, and KPI measurement skills will also be in demand. As the world shifted to increased online purchases, these marketing areas have continued to grow, while the more traditional marketing areas are experiencing a slowdown with the rest of the economy.
What general advice would you give to a Digital Media Producer?
Kimberly Pichot: If connections were meaningful before, now they are more than crucial. Find ways to connect with marketing professionals, join the American Marketing Association, and join a local chapter. Take the time to build a strong portfolio, develop your brand, and stay out there, no matter how hard it is. And consider starting a side hustle that utilizes your most treasured part of marketing - starting and running a small business while you job hunt will give you some extra skills and push you to new levels.
What Digital Media Producer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kimberly Pichot: If a graduate chooses to take a gap year, I recommend that they still take on activities to help them develop more skills. Find a nonprofit to volunteer and ask them if they could use your skills. Treat it as an internship or a job and find ways to hone your skills. Some skills marketing majors can focus on including social media content and campaign planning and delivery, digital marketing, and measurement. Build your portfolio with quantifiable results. Whether volunteering for one organization or several short stints in different organizations, engage in activities that will enhance your portfolio and demonstrate to future employers that you are growing.
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D
ProfessorWest Virginia State University
Department of Communications & Media Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Media Producers?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: Graduates are also citizens of the world. This is a global pandemic, and we are all in it. Given the political economy of the coronavirus, many organizations are going through tough times. There will be fewer job opportunities for all graduates. The field of communication, on the other hand, maybe an exception. We learned it the hard way. We had to stay home, work, teach, and learn remotely. We filled our long days with entertainment, games, etc. We shared moments with family and loved ones virtually. The opportunities for internet-based media are endless. The essential item I retain from this experience is that media and communication technologies are central and our graduates.
What type of skills will young Digital Media Producers need?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: Media and technology literacy is of utmost importance. In communication and media studies at West Virginia State University, we do everything we can to provide our graduates with media literacy skills: video, audio, film, public relations, graphic design, etc. In general, graduates have to be excellent in computer and internet-based communication in terms of production and media content distribution. Specific skills include, but are not limited to, graphic design, editing, writing, research, and data analysis.
What experience really stands out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: The nature of practical experiences and where they took place always stand out in any resume. I would pay close attention to the academic aspect and align with those practical experiences to see the level of the candidate's planning, performance, and dedication to his/her dream job.
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, ISU English Undergraduate Studies; Director, ISU Studio for New MediaIowa State University
Department of English
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Producer job market given the pandemic?
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.: Today, my students are quite experienced with precarity, a word that's become popular this year (which refers to environments dominated by precarious conditions). This means that many are well-suited to changing circumstances and varying methods of working on teams. Though the high unemployment rate in the US-led to reduced job listings last summer, employers have told me that they've been very impressed with the students they do hire. Many established workers have little experience with different ways to manage distance collaboration. Still, full-time students graduating this December will have had at least 10-12 courses, and those graduating next May will have had at least 15-18 courses taught online (or mostly online). This means new graduates will have had more diverse experiences with collaboration in remote teams under different professors/supervisors, which will allow them to see an extensive range of leadership styles and techniques to manage people working together at a distance. Distance collaboration is here to stay, and today's students will have superior skills and diverse experience working in such environments.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Digital Media Producers in the next 3-5 years?
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.: Collaborative documents will be essential. These include things such as Google Docs or Microsoft Office 365, which allow multiple people to write together simultaneously. My students use these technologies all the time, for things such as live collaborative lecture notes, which we all write together during WebEx video classes-these are significantly more complete than any single student's lecture notes used to be and are rapidly becoming part of workplace teams using new methods of project management, such as agile, and scrum. More advanced students of mine study how to build content management systems using systems like WordPress or SharePoint. These will be more important as workplace teams collaborate more often at a distance.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Producer job market given the pandemic?
David T. Z. Mindich Ph.D.: The pandemic will begin to abate, experts tell us, by the first half of 2021. Although journalism jobs are right now, news organizations will continue to hire talented graduates. The skills that journalism and mass communication students learn today are readily transferrable in our increasingly mediated world.
What skills stand out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
David T. Z. Mindich Ph.D.: At Temple Journalism, we emphasize skills and practices that stand out on resumes. First, we send students out onto the streets of Philadelphia, the nation's fourth-largest media market, to report on a range of important, urban-related issues, from housing to wealth inequality to systemic racism to the pandemic to gentrification to education and beyond. Second, we teach storytelling across media platforms. Even though we are in a pandemic, students continue to report on pressing issues (while practicing safe distancing). When they graduate, they will have an important body of work to present.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Producer job market given the pandemic?
Lara Teeter: The most obvious trend is that "Virtual Theatre" is not going to be going away. In addition to television, film, Broadway & Regional theatre, cruise line and theme park work...our students and professionals alike have had to hone special skills in both the performance and technical aspects of virtual theatre. The other given is that the digital audition room (video submissions and even callbacks for projects) will continue to be used by producers, directors, casting directors, and agents. This is a real money saver when you consider the cost of flying someone in (director, casting director, talent), put them up at a hotel, and then rent the space to hold the audition. I do NOT feel that the "in-room" audition will go away, but the virtual audition room is something that is here to stay!
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Producers to find work opportunities?
Lara Teeter: Throw a rock over your shoulder and hit 20 in one throw! Literally, everywhere you turn, if you are hungry and smart, there is a place to find work. I like to use "Everything was Possible - the birth of the musical FOLLIES" by Ted Chapin as an example. He was in a position to fetch coffee for Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim, and Michael Bennett. After so many years, he was chosen by the Rodgers and Hammerstein families to run their business. He's also the co-founder of ENCORES. There are many "good places" to find work. There are also some "not so good" places to work. A young actor's journey must encounter both so that as they mature in the business, they can, hopefully, begin to choose what places/directors/organizations that they prefer to work with as well as those they don't. Until that day, however, a job is a job. The MUNY, The Glimmerglass Opera, Goodspeed, Pittsburg Civic Light Opera, Wichita Summer Musicals, Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City (these last two is where I got my start in the 1970s!), Barrington Stage, American Repertory Theatre, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Alabama Shakespeare, Seattle Reparatory Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, TX, Broadway Sacramento (formally California Musical Theatre)....the list goes on and on!
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Producer job market given the pandemic?
Duncan MacKenzie: The fine arts' job market is always aggressively entrepreneurial and requires our practitioners to establish their voice and space. With many of our more traditional paths squeezed or closed, we see an increased enthusiasm for online venues and the kinds of work that can support them. After the pandemic, we expect to see a return to the materially based practices and those with performative and social aspects, as the audience will be looking for less mediated experiences.
What skills stand out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Duncan MacKenzie: For all young artists, organizational skills, digital and web-based skills, and an ability to communicate verbally and textually are very important; beyond that, craft-based skills relevant to whatever is being made are always crucial.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Producers to find work opportunities?
Duncan MacKenzie: Artists can find relevance anywhere they want to work, but often, they must build the audience for their creative output. It is more comfortable in big cities such as New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago, as they have pre-existing channels and communities for art-making and viewing. Still, those cities can be significantly more expensive to live in.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Producer job market given the pandemic?
Michael Wagner: We primarily serve the traditional digital media industries (game design, animation, visual effects, VR/AR, etc.). In our fields, the pandemic's most significant trend is the rapid development of solutions for virtualizing digital media production systems. Companies have started to move much of their production into cloud-based development environments that allow developers to work in geographically dispersed teams.
What skills stand out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Michael Wagner: Primarily an understanding of how to be productive in virtual teams. Anything that proves that somebody is capable of working independently and reliably.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Producers to find work opportunities?
Michael Wagner: In our fields, location is no longer a serious concern. People work from anywhere. There are still traditional pockets of media industries such as LA, but the overall tendency is to move into remote work arrangements.
What skills stand out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Dr. Keith Strudler Ph.D.: Particularly as organizations are planning not just for the present but also for the post-pandemic future, where employees continue to work remotely and more flexibly than before. I believe that they will continue to want new employees who know how to use digital and remote tools and practices. So those that can comfortably use tools like Slack, Google Meets, and also disciplinary-specific media tools like Studio 6, VMIX, and Frankie, the better positioned they are for a new position. I also think students who have a wide range of skills and can problem solve (as opposed to being tied to one way of doing things) are far more valuable -- which should drive the way universities teach in the future. Finally, given the continued growth of social media, I think students who know how to use social media listening, analytics, and management tools will have a strong advantage and students who can effectively create content for social and understand audience.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Producers to find work opportunities?
Chris Hansen: Most cities of any size have businesses and churches that need media professionals. Every business needs a media presence for their website, or social media, or advertising. So whether they do that with in-house media employees or outsource to firms or freelancers who handle the work, having these skills will make you employable in most medium-sized or large cities.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Producers in the next 5 years?
Chris Hansen: In digital media, technology is ever-changing. It's a field that's rooted in technological advances, giving us better ways to do what we do. So technology will change, and students in this field need to learn not only whatever is current, but they need to learn how to adapt as things change.
What type of skills will young Digital Media Producers need?
David Carren: Critical thinking, a significant component of all successful creative endeavors, will be a considerable asset. Another essential ability to collaborate or work with others efficiently and effectively will also matter a great deal.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Producers in the next 5 years?
David Carren: The most significant impact will be in the nature and expansion of digital delivery systems for narrative film and television and live theatre.
What experience really stands out on Digital Media Producer resumes?
Nate Bynum: Performance experience is the most apparent accomplishment theatre employers look for on a resume. The documented ability to sing, dance, and act, are still the standards that define a well-rounded theatre performer. A summary showing roles in a wide variety of genres (classical/period/musicals/comedies/dramas) will undoubtedly stand out versus one limited in number and scope. As well, classes taken are of interest to a potential employer. Courses in movement, voice, diction, screen acting, stage combat, etc., will suggest that the student was focused on being--or the program forced them to be--well-rounded and involved. And, fortunately, or unfortunately, the school can make a difference to employers.
The more prominent and more well-known the program, the more famous the alumni, the more severe or well-trained the student is deemed to be. I say "unfortunately" because that is often far from being true. There are many good students to be found on large and small campuses. A well-rounded theatre student has trained in various genres (stage, musicals, film/tv, opera) to prepare for a career in the arts. The operative word being "career." Say, for example, the theatre student is applying to teach at a university. The classes or specialized area of training becomes a lot more important than the proven ability to perform. And with that, the ability to write and communicate orally.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Producers in the next 5 years?
Nate Bynum: It will ever increase. Long before the pandemic, more and more stage performers were being asked to submit auditions via self-tapes. That process can be a time and money saver for both the theatre and the actor. Still, stage acting is centered around performing in front of a live audience, and the best way to prove confidence and ability in doing that is to audition live and respond to feedback in real-time. Recording and streaming live performances is already an issue causing legal ramifications between SAG-AFTRA and AEA. This is a sensitive issue at present.
On the other hand, technology has already impacted film/tv acting, and I think it is to stay there. A reliance on self-taped audition submissions, and Zoom auditions, will probably remain a norm in the on-screen discipline because, again, of time and cost. I think everyone is eager to get back to in-person auditions, getting adjustments in the room from the decision-makers, and just direct reading the room. Still, a lot of money has been spent on the equipment during the pandemic, and no one wants it only to become obsolete. Also, a lot of actors are getting good at self-taping. As well, casting directors have a lot more opportunities nowadays to cast multiple shows. The quick turnaround demanded from network, cable, and streaming shows doesn't allow for many in-person auditions.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Media Producers?
Nate Bynum: Undoubtedly, training was greatly affected during the pandemic. Arts training is now, and has always been, hands-on. Even if classes were allowed in-person, social distance spacing is anathema to the movement in the discipline. Theatre and screen acting are collaborative arts. Teachers and students have to work together and nearby. This can not be accomplished via Zoom and 6ft. spacing. Social distance does not exist in the arts. Thus, the limits placed on teachers and students in executing exercises, performing scene work or tech work, or proving to understand the intricate details of a particular art were lost and will have to be learned at another time.