Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a Manager, Design and Production is approximately $79,444 per year. This figure represents a competitive compensation rate within the creative industries. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with extensive experience can earn significantly more. Factors influencing salary levels include geographic location, the specific industry, and the scale of the projects managed.
Salary rates for managers in this field can vary widely across different states. For example, regions with a higher cost of living or a strong demand for creative roles often offer higher salaries. States like California and New York frequently report increased compensation due to their robust creative sectors.
Job openings for Managers in Design and Production are expected to grow, reflecting an increasing need for skilled professionals in various industries, including fashion, advertising, and media. As companies continue to prioritize innovative design and production techniques, professionals with a keen understanding of these dynamics will find ample opportunities to advance their careers.
Let Zippi find your next manager, design and production job
Let Zippi find your next manager, design and production job
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level manager, design and production | $49,600 | $23.86 |
| Mid-level manager, design and production | $69,600 | $33.45 |
| Senior-level manager, design and production | $108,000 | $52.16 |
The average manager, design and production salary in Virginia, California, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average manager, design and production salary states are Louisiana, Idaho, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $99,331 | $47.76 |
| 2 | Oregon | $88,101 | $42.36 |
| 3 | Washington | $89,879 | $43.21 |
| 4 | Virginia | $99,657 | $47.91 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $82,567 | $39.70 |
| 6 | Nevada | $83,869 | $40.32 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $72,424 | $34.82 |
| 8 | Arizona | $75,926 | $36.50 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $89,994 | $43.27 |
| 10 | Ohio | $72,647 | $34.93 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $93,014 | $44.72 |
| 12 | New York | $85,593 | $41.15 |
| 13 | Utah | $71,162 | $34.21 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $77,902 | $37.45 |
| 15 | Michigan | $69,323 | $33.33 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $78,017 | $37.51 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $88,417 | $42.51 |
| 18 | Texas | $73,431 | $35.30 |
| 19 | Illinois | $71,831 | $34.53 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $68,482 | $32.92 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $69,627 | $33.47 |
| 22 | Colorado | $71,092 | $34.18 |
| 23 | Vermont | $64,858 | $31.18 |
| 24 | Delaware | $69,272 | $33.30 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $68,172 | $32.77 |
| 26 | Maryland | $74,399 | $35.77 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $64,901 | $31.20 |
| 28 | Iowa | $60,861 | $29.26 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $65,181 | $31.34 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $68,644 | $33.00 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $62,264 | $29.93 |
| 32 | Indiana | $60,062 | $28.88 |
| 33 | Alaska | $69,518 | $33.42 |
| 34 | Georgia | $62,974 | $30.28 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $59,256 | $28.49 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $62,697 | $30.14 |
| 37 | Missouri | $62,307 | $29.96 |
| 38 | Maine | $60,131 | $28.91 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $61,560 | $29.60 |
| 40 | Kansas | $58,438 | $28.10 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $59,540 | $28.63 |
| 42 | Florida | $61,795 | $29.71 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $60,678 | $29.17 |
| 44 | Idaho | $57,029 | $27.42 |
| 45 | Montana | $61,439 | $29.54 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $56,491 | $27.16 |
| 47 | Alabama | $51,353 | $24.69 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $58,275 | $28.02 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $59,395 | $28.56 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $55,713 | $26.79 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $47,633 | $22.90 |
The highest-paying cities for managers, design and production are Los Angeles, CA, Fort Lee, NJ, and Cambridge, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $97,113 | $46.69 |
| 2 | Fort Lee, NJ | $92,969 | $44.70 |
| 3 | Cambridge, MA | $89,970 | $43.25 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $85,922 | $41.31 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $76,161 | $36.62 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $73,313 | $35.25 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $61,468 | $29.55 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $59,315 | $28.52 |
| 9 | Jackson, MS | $57,157 | $27.48 |
A manager, design and production's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $111,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $111,000 | $9,250 | $53 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| Average | $79,444 | $6,620 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
The highest paying types of managers, design and production are design director, lead designer, and senior designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | $59,367 | $4,947 | $28.54 | 2,088 |
| Graphic Artist | $54,900 | $4,575 | $26.39 | 8,752 |
| Web Graphic Designer | $52,574 | $4,381 | $25.28 | 51,462 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| User Experience Designer | $91,159 | $7,597 | $43.83 | 52,582 |
| Graphic Designer | $49,450 | $4,121 | $23.77 | 45,625 |
Top companies hiring managers, design and production now:
Manager, design and production salaries at Middlebury College and Halff Associates are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average manager, design and production salary at companies like Universal Environmental Services LLC and Harvard University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlebury College | $99,589 | $47.88 |
| 2 | Halff Associates | $86,863 | $41.76 |
| 3 | Universal Environmental Services LLC | $79,538 | $38.24 |
| 4 | Harvard University | $77,350 | $37.19 |
| 5 | PetSmart | $72,126 | $34.68 |
| 6 | Wicked Fashions, Inc. | $64,786 | $31.15 |
| 7 | University of Mississippi Medical Center | $55,710 | $26.78 |
| 8 | The Motion Agency | $52,697 | $25.34 |
The average manager, design and production salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $82,256 | $39.55 |
| 2 | Professional | $74,249 | $35.70 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $72,704 | $34.95 |
| 4 | Media | $72,291 | $34.76 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $64,161 | $30.85 |
| 6 | Retail | $59,350 | $28.53 |
The average manager, design and production salary has risen by $13,945 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average manager, design and production earned $65,499 annually, but today, they earn $79,444 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for managers, design and production over the last decade.
Compare manager, design and production salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare manager, design and production salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79,400 | $38.19 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $77,600 | $37.29 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $75,000 | $36.04 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $72,500 | $34.85 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $70,900 | $34.09 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suny Plattsburgh | Production Manager/Designer | Plattsburgh, NY | 06/13/2025 | $47,906 |
| Stantec Inc. | Production CAD Manager | Los Angeles, CA | 05/14/2025 | $127,700 |
| Hellofresh | Manager, Editorial Production & Design | New York, NY | 02/18/2025 | $97,500 |
| Solomon Page | Production Design Manager | Dallas, TX | 01/26/2025 | $73,045 |
| Golden Hippo | SR. Manager, Web Design & Production | Los Angeles, CA | 01/26/2025 | $125,200 |
| Hellofresh | Manager, Editorial Production & Design | New York, NY | 01/26/2025 | $97,500 |
| Hellofresh | Manager, Editorial Production & Design | New York, NY | 12/16/2024 | $97,500 |
| The University of Alabama | Production and Design Manager | Alabama | 12/11/2024 | $48,600 |
| Golden Hippo | SR. Manager, Web Design & Production | Los Angeles, CA | 12/06/2024 | $125,200 |
| Ryannreed | Production Manager-Design Build | Langhorne, PA | 11/19/2024 | $60,000 |
Search for manager, design and production jobs