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Job outlook for production leaders in the United States
Production Leader job and salary trends over time
Production Leader jobs over time
Production Leader job growth rate over time
| Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 107,680 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 102,630 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 107,968 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 106,546 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 104,666 | 0.03% |
Average production leader salary over time
Production Leader salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,563 | $21.42 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $43,471 | $20.90 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $42,840 | $20.60 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $41,741 | $20.07 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $40,968 | $19.70 | +2.6% |
Production Leader jobs by state
Most common states for production leaders
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 274 | 39% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 586 | 31% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,049 | 30% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 224 | 30% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 251 | 24% |
| 6 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 204 | 23% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 657 | 21% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 277 | 21% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 222 | 21% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,405 | 19% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 139 | 19% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,065 | 18% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 994 | 18% |
| 14 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,158 | 17% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 105 | 17% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 217 | 16% |
| 17 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,696 | 15% |
| 18 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 681 | 15% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 321 | 15% |
| 20 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 392 | 13% |
Most common cities for production leaders
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Sacramento | 2 | 4% | $47,704 |
| 2 | Benicia | 1 | 4% | $48,405 |
| 3 | Kalamazoo | 2 | 3% | $45,800 |
| 4 | Springdale | 2 | 3% | $44,558 |
| 5 | Union City | 2 | 3% | $48,731 |
| 6 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $47,480 |
| 7 | Albany | 1 | 1% | $40,269 |
| 8 | Jacksonville | 3 | 0% | $41,019 |
| 9 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $43,430 |
| 10 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $49,370 |
| 11 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $47,848 |
| 12 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $62,816 |
Production Leader job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of production leader experts
Goshen College
Centenary College of Louisiana
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Bethel University
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Production Leader job market given the pandemic?
Suzanne Ehst Ph.D.: The pandemic has certainly increased our need for substitute teachers. In many states, there is a shortage of teachers, so moving right into a full-time job after graduation is a more certain path than it used to be. However, for those who cannot find a full-time position or don't want one right away, subbing is an excellent way to gain experience and learn school systems. Also, given the amount of hybrid and remote teaching this past year, employers are going to look for teachers who can demonstrate that they understand how to use technology effectively with students.
What skills stand out on Production Leader resumes?
Suzanne Ehst Ph.D.: While there are certain skills and experiences that we expect to see on a resume for teaching positions, there are some that make an applicant stand out. Try to find at least one of the following that you can highlight on a resume and cover letter: cross-cultural experience; proficiency with a second language; technology skills beyond basic word processing; skills that align with extra-curricular activities like athletics, the arts, or publishing.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Production Leaders to find work opportunities?
Suzanne Ehst Ph.D.: Many states are experiencing teacher shortages, but not all. The U.S. Department of education keeps an updated list of each state's shortage areas, and you can find this at tsa.ed.gov. We hear a lot about shortages in STEM fields, but many states have shortages in multiple subjects and specializations.
Jessica Hawkins
Associate Professor of CommunicationCentenary College of Louisiana
Department of Art and Visual Culture
What skills stand out on Production Leader resumes?
Jessica Hawkins: Related to my answer above, communication skills are more important now than ever. This includes written communication like email, but also speaking and presentation skills for video conferencing. These communication skills are also related to important professional necessities in the visual arts: grant writing, proposal development, and applications for artist-in-residence opportunities.
What skills stand out on Production Leader resumes?
Dr. Robin Mello Ph.D.: -Communication (The arts teach expertise in this area.) and negotiation
-Leadership and project management (Believe it or not, the arts focus on time management and high commitment to work ethic.)
-New ideas and innovations (Developing ideas and solutions and working on them through to the finished project)
-Curiosity and risk taking
-Technology skills (Film and theatre production are focused on mentoring in shops and laboratories.)
-Imagination and interpersonal skills
-Curiosity - independence - knowing how to follow through on tasks and projects
-Cultural literacy and diversity
-Singing, dancing, storytelling, acting, writing, designing, comedy, and scholarship
Jessica Tangen Daniels Ph.D.
Associate Provost - Innovation and Partnerships, Program Director/Professor, Ed.D. Leadership in Higher EducationBethel University
Education Leadership
What skills stand out on Production Leader resumes?
Jessica Tangen Daniels Ph.D.: The skills that "stand out" on an educational leader's resume are those that synergize into a coherent story. So not necessarily the skills that are self-identified and listed under a "skills" heading, but those that are evidenced through outcomes achieved appointments/promotions, or other demonstrated successes. For example, in an educational institution, being elected to a chair or moderator position within a senate structure might indicate characteristics of diplomacy, advocacy, collaboration, and wisdom. The resume reader can imagine how those attributes might translate to a new employment space, with much more confidence than if those same characteristics were merely listed as skills. So first, on a resume, prioritize representing your skills through a story, experience, and evidence (rather than self-described adjectives) in a way that reflects your unique narrative.
Now, regarding the specific skills. Some of the skills desired in an educational leader change, based on the institutional context, the previous leader, unique internal or external challenges, etc. However, I would suggest two interminable and foundational skills that will always stand out on a resume and differentiate the applicant: working hard and working with others. Employers want to hire a hard worker, determined, responsible, trustworthy, and strong work ethic. And employers want to hire someone who others want to work with, someone who is collaborative, thoughtful, or in Ingnation or Jesuit language, someone who is for and with others.
Those two skills form a foundation for professional success.
What soft skills should all Production Leaders possess?
Jessica Tangen Daniels Ph.D.: With the rapid rate of change, accelerating information turnover, and boundless access to knowledge, certain new soft skills may now be prioritized in our current society. So we all have to be learners, seeking new information, anticipating that we will need to change our mind, and striving for a disposition of curiosity. The specific skill of asking good questions cannot be underestimated.
Employers may be seeking skills like imaginative bridging, humbly and curiously connecting dots. Or the skills of facilitation and curation, with so many different perspectives and lived experiences, and an overabundance of information, an educational leader, must manage people, perspectives, and content like never before.
Employers are looking for skills that relate to not only the day-to-day tactical aspects of educational leadership but also imaginative problem-solving for a thriving future.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Production Leaders?
Jessica Tangen Daniels Ph.D.: Many hard/technical skills are incredibly context-specific, so importance varies by role and/or industry. But for educational leaders, generally applicable skills might be related to teaching and learning constructs, finance and budgeting, and basic legal issues awareness. Perhaps familiarity with specific content management systems or learning management systems, but again, this use varies by institution.
What skills will help Production Leaders earn the most?
Jessica Tangen Daniels Ph.D.: For educational leaders, I'm not convinced discrete skills equate to salary. Working hard and working well with others, with a disposition of humility and curiosity, is really powerful. Perhaps the combination of soft and hard skills gained through diverse experiences, positions, and institutional contexts results in the highest earning potential.