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The differences between production directors and directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a production director, becoming a director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a production director has an average salary of $118,207, which is higher than the $113,489 average annual salary of a director.
The top three skills for a production director include video production, project management and oversight. The most important skills for a director are healthcare, customer service, and oversight.
| Production Director | Director | |
| Yearly salary | $118,207 | $113,489 |
| Hourly rate | $56.83 | $54.56 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 59,417 | 230,711 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Production directors work with production teams to manage the operation workflow, quality, and schedule adherence. They also monitor production activities to make necessary adjustments to the schedule to ensure that all deliverables are delivered on time, develop ideas for process improvements, and optimize production speed while maintaining the quality of the products. There are a few skills that most employers look for in production directors, like analytical skills, leadership skills, and creativity which are very helpful in fulfilling this role.
Directors work in show business, whether in a film, a television show, or a theatre production. They are responsible for bringing the material to life. They work with the writers to get a clear vision of how the production should look. They lead the production team in planning for the production, identifying filming or rehearsing schedules, casting for roles, and other aspects that need to be decided upon. Directors provide direction to the actors to ensure that the actors understand their role and will be able to effectively convey emotions to the audience. They also manage all other crew members and communicate their expectations clearly so that everyone on the set is working towards one vision.
Production directors and directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Production Director | Director | |
| Average salary | $118,207 | $113,489 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $199,000 | Between $66,000 And $192,000 |
| Highest paying City | White Plains, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New York |
| Best paying company | Netflix | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a production director and a director in terms of educational background:
| Production Director | Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between production directors' and directors' demographics:
| Production Director | Director | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.0% Female, 30.0% | Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 14% |