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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
If you're considering this career, the geography of pay matters. The national median salary for Producers in 2026 is $95,439, with entry-level positions averaging $68,716 and senior roles reaching $135,523. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $173,840, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Arts & Media within the broader Creative & Media industry, Producers typically hold Bachelor's in media. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is on-site/hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$105,780 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Producer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $173,840 — $105,780 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($68,060). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Producers average $68,716, the median sits at $95,439, and senior earners pull in $135,523. That $66,807 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $15,072 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $162,360 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $68,607. That $93,753 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Producer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $173,840 — $105,780 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($68,060). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Producer is $68,716, while senior-level (P90) earners average $135,523. That $66,807 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Producers pull in an average of $135,523. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Producers average $68,716 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $68,716 | $95,439 | $135,523 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £35,709 | £49,596 | £70,426 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$51,524 | CA$71,561 | CA$101,617 |
| Australia | 13 | A$57,196 | A$79,440 | A$112,804 |
| Sweden | 24 | 364,794 kr | 506,659 kr | 719,455 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $82,937 | $115,190 | $163,570 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $80,147 | $111,315 | $158,067 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $79,704 | $110,700 | $157,194 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $73,800 | $102,500 | $145,550 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $72,914 | $101,270 | $143,803 |
| Washington | 8 | $71,512 | $99,323 | $141,038 |
| New York | 5 | $67,305 | $93,480 | $132,741 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $67,306 | $93,480 | $132,742 |
| Florida | 22 | $66,796 | $92,772 | $131,736 |
| Colorado | 11 | $65,642 | $91,169 | $129,460 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $65,534 | $91,020 | $129,248 |
| Nevada | 5 | $65,416 | $90,856 | $129,015 |
| Arizona | 12 | $65,092 | $90,405 | $128,375 |
| Oregon | 5 | $64,944 | $90,200 | $128,084 |
| Idaho | 3 | $64,747 | $89,927 | $127,696 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $64,236 | $89,216 | $126,687 |
| Utah | 4 | $64,058 | $88,970 | $126,337 |
| Virginia | 7 | $63,004 | $87,506 | $124,258 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $62,189 | $86,373 | $122,650 |
| Alaska | 1 | $61,992 | $86,100 | $122,262 |
| Illinois | 5 | $61,283 | $85,116 | $120,865 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $59,762 | $83,002 | $117,863 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $59,040 | $82,000 | $116,440 |
| Montana | 1 | $59,040 | $82,000 | $116,440 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $58,843 | $81,727 | $116,052 |
| Texas | 40 | $58,553 | $81,324 | $115,479 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $58,450 | $81,180 | $115,276 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $58,155 | $80,770 | $114,694 |
| Georgia | 6 | $57,958 | $80,497 | $114,305 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $57,859 | $80,360 | $114,111 |
| Kansas | 4 | $57,564 | $79,950 | $113,529 |
| Michigan | 6 | $57,367 | $79,677 | $113,141 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $56,679 | $78,720 | $111,783 |
| Maryland | 1 | $56,678 | $78,720 | $111,782 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $56,088 | $77,900 | $110,618 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $56,088 | $77,900 | $110,618 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $54,612 | $75,850 | $107,707 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $54,317 | $75,440 | $107,125 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $53,579 | $74,415 | $105,669 |
| Missouri | 4 | $53,579 | $74,415 | $105,670 |
| Alabama | 5 | $53,372 | $74,128 | $105,262 |
| Indiana | 3 | $52,546 | $72,980 | $103,632 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $52,546 | $72,980 | $103,632 |
| Iowa | 2 | $51,955 | $72,160 | $102,467 |
| Ohio | 6 | $51,857 | $72,023 | $102,273 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $49,594 | $68,880 | $97,810 |
Geography shapes Producer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $115,190 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
Raw salary rankings and cost-adjusted rankings tell different stories. After adjusting for local costs, Sunnyvale ($82,000 adjusted), Santa Clara ($82,000 adjusted), Irvine ($82,000 adjusted) lead the field. The takeaway: the highest nominal salary doesn't always deliver the best standard of living. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $173,840 | 212 | $82,000 | $102,656 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $162,360 | 198 | $82,000 | $96,337 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $150,880 | 184 | $82,000 | $90,017 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $148,420 | 181 | $82,000 | $88,663 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $145,960 | 178 | $82,000 | $87,308 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $145,140 | 177 | $82,000 | $86,857 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $145,140 | 177 | $82,000 | $86,857 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $141,860 | 173 | $82,000 | $85,051 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $141,860 | 173 | $82,000 | $85,051 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $138,580 | 169 | $82,000 | $83,246 |
From a career planning perspective, Producer offers a $66,807 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in media. Day-to-day, expect on-site/hybrid work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Producers is $95,439 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $68,716, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $135,523.
The highest-paying city for Producers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $173,840. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($173,840), Santa Clara ($162,360), Irvine ($150,880). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Producer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $68,060. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Producers (10th percentile) average $68,716 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $125,165. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Producers average $135,523 nationally — $66,807 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Producers can earn up to $246,853.
The top-paying states for Producers are California ($115,190 median), Massachusetts ($111,315 median), Hawaii ($110,700 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Producer involves Bachelor's in media. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically on-site/hybrid.
With a national median of $95,439 and representation across 288 metro areas, Producer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $66,807 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.