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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Media Production Specialist is approximately $53,243 per year, or about $26 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors like location, years of experience, and the sector of employment. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to a higher cost of living and greater demand for media professionals.
Media Production Specialists in states with a high concentration of entertainment and media companies, such as California, New York, and Texas, typically earn more than those in other regions. Understanding these geographical salary trends can be crucial for job seekers aiming to maximize their earning potential.
Several industries employ Media Production Specialists, including advertising agencies, film studios, and corporate communications departments. Each industry has varying pay scales, with advertising and film generally offering higher salaries. To explore job options, consider platforms like Zippia, which provide comprehensive listings tailored to your skills and location.
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The highest-paying states for media production specialists are New Jersey, Washington, and Connecticut. The lowest average media production specialist salary states are Alabama, Oklahoma, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $60,235 | $28.96 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $66,867 | $32.15 |
| 4 | Washington | $71,319 | $34.29 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $73,660 | $35.41 |
| 6 | California | $59,815 | $28.76 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $55,241 | $26.56 |
| 8 | Arizona | $54,673 | $26.29 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $55,139 | $26.51 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $59,431 | $28.57 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $50,134 | $24.10 |
| 12 | Delaware | $54,428 | $26.17 |
| 13 | Idaho | $51,024 | $24.53 |
| 14 | Virginia | $57,661 | $27.72 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $59,768 | $28.73 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $51,173 | $24.60 |
| 17 | Michigan | $49,401 | $23.75 |
| 18 | New York | $52,686 | $25.33 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $51,094 | $24.56 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $50,405 | $24.23 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $48,102 | $23.13 |
| 22 | Oregon | $51,554 | $24.79 |
| 23 | Maryland | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $50,219 | $24.14 |
| 25 | Vermont | $48,302 | $23.22 |
| 26 | Illinois | $49,867 | $23.97 |
| 27 | Colorado | $53,440 | $25.69 |
| 28 | Texas | $51,244 | $24.64 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $45,601 | $21.92 |
| 30 | Alaska | $52,648 | $25.31 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $53,504 | $25.72 |
| 32 | Nevada | $48,406 | $23.27 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $45,621 | $21.93 |
| 34 | Indiana | $45,111 | $21.69 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $44,734 | $21.51 |
| 36 | Utah | $43,496 | $20.91 |
| 37 | Iowa | $41,389 | $19.90 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $48,522 | $23.33 |
| 39 | Maine | $41,228 | $19.82 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $43,323 | $20.83 |
| 41 | Georgia | $42,334 | $20.35 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $43,175 | $20.76 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $43,289 | $20.81 |
| 44 | Alabama | $40,751 | $19.59 |
| 45 | Florida | $39,834 | $19.15 |
| 46 | Kansas | $38,999 | $18.75 |
| 47 | Montana | $41,847 | $20.12 |
| 48 | Missouri | $41,384 | $19.90 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $40,112 | $19.28 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $37,152 | $17.86 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $38,857 | $18.68 |
The highest-paying cities for media production specialists are Washington, DC, Palo Alto, CA, and Colorado Springs, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $64,359 | $30.94 |
| 2 | Palo Alto, CA | $63,829 | $30.69 |
| 3 | Colorado Springs, CO | $53,168 | $25.56 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $52,929 | $25.45 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $51,873 | $24.94 |
| 6 | Troy, MI | $49,700 | $23.89 |
| 7 | Urbana, IL | $48,325 | $23.23 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $47,818 | $22.99 |
| 9 | Duluth, GA | $42,295 | $20.33 |
| 10 | Auburn, AL | $40,628 | $19.53 |
| 11 | Apopka, FL | $39,599 | $19.04 |
A media production specialist's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $73,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $53,243 | $4,437 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
The highest paying types of media production specialists are senior communications specialist, public affairs specialist, and video producer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance Videographer/Editor | $48,481 | $4,040 | $23.31 | 5,409 |
| Videographer | $43,620 | $3,635 | $20.97 | 1,267 |
| Freelance Video Editor | $54,795 | $4,566 | $26.34 | 5,910 |
| Photographer, Editor | $51,131 | $4,261 | $24.58 | 11,039 |
| Freelance Photographer | $42,949 | $3,579 | $20.65 | 1,766 |
| Social Media Editor | $53,943 | $4,495 | $25.93 | 37,769 |
Top companies hiring media production specialists now:
Media production specialist salaries at Keysight Technologies and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average media production specialist salary at companies like Gaia and Crown Equipment are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keysight Technologies | $79,386 | $38.17 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $72,792 | $35.00 |
| 3 | Gaia | $72,749 | $34.98 |
| 4 | Crown Equipment | $67,598 | $32.50 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Springfield | $63,479 | $30.52 |
| 6 | Nea Rhode Island | $59,901 | $28.80 |
| 7 | Quest Diagnostics | $58,022 | $27.90 |
| 8 | SA Technologies Inc | $56,616 | $27.22 |
| 9 | Eastern Washington University | $54,374 | $26.14 |
| 10 | Orange County High School | $52,739 | $25.36 |
| 11 | Honda | $50,249 | $24.16 |
| 12 | North Oaks Health System | $49,174 | $23.64 |
| 13 | Viewpoint School | $47,318 | $22.75 |
| 14 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | $42,608 | $20.48 |
| 15 | Auburn University | $41,840 | $20.12 |
| 16 | County of Riverside | $40,569 | $19.50 |
The average media production specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $65,201 | $31.35 |
| 2 | Media | $53,702 | $25.82 |
| 3 | Health Care | $52,766 | $25.37 |
| 4 | Education | $50,062 | $24.07 |
| 5 | Retail | $45,708 | $21.98 |
The average media production specialist salary has risen by $8,155 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average media production specialist earned $45,088 annually, but today, they earn $53,243 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for media production specialists over the last decade.
Compare media production specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare media production specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,200 | $25.60 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $51,800 | $24.92 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $50,900 | $24.45 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $50,300 | $24.17 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $49,200 | $23.65 | +2.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilovetocreate | Media Production Specialist II | Fresno, CA | 06/21/2025 | $54,262 |
| Paisley Crafts | Media Production Specialist II | Fresno, CA | 06/15/2025 | $54,262 |
| True Group | Head of Media Production | Oak Brook, IL | 05/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| The University of Alabama | Media Production Specialist | Tuscaloosa, AL | 05/16/2025 | $48,600 |
| Auburn University | Media Production Specialist-Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program | Auburn, AL | 04/19/2025 | $38,390 |
| Keen Eye Marketing | Media Production Specialist | Folly Beach, SC | 03/26/2025 | $46,000 |
| Keen Eye Marketing | Media Production Specialist | Folly Beach, SC | 02/24/2025 | $46,000 |
| State of Michigan | Media Production Specialist 9-P11-Advertising, Marketing & Creative Serv-Communications Admin | Lansing, MI | 02/22/2025 | $54,763 |
| Leopardo Companies | Media Production Specialist | Hoffman Estates, IL | 02/18/2025 | $80,000 |
| Thatstartupjob | Paid Media Contractor | Delaware | 02/18/2025 | $114,785 |
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