Grows with AI

Producers and directors

Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.

AI Resistance Index 35 of 99

Changing faster than most: more resilient than 35% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +4.0% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and ethical judgement.

AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.

Median pay (2025): $90,360
Job growth to 2035: +4.0%
Openings a year: 12,100
People doing it (2025): 181,000
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Determine operational methods or procedures
Communicate with others about specifications or project details
Operate communications equipment or systems

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures
Coordinate artistic or entertainment activities
Perform recruiting or hiring activities

What the work looks like

Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

More of these jobs, as more filmed content leads to additional commercials and advertising, particularly online video ads, which also need to be produced and directed.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Animal scientistsGrows with AI, Index 40, +5.8%
Architectural and engineering managersGrows with AI, Index 56, +5.5%
Food scientists and technologistsGrows with AI, Index 61, +6.2%
Architects, except landscape and navalGrows with AI, Index 37, +4.3%

Also known as: Artistic Director, Director, News Producer, Producer, News Director, Program Director (PD), Program Manager, Programming Director.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.