What is the average Documentary Filmmaker salary in the US?

The national median Documentary Filmmaker salary is $65,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $42,000, while senior professionals earn $175,000 or more.

Which city pays Documentary Filmmakers the most?

New York City offers the highest median Documentary Filmmaker salary at $122K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Documentary Filmmaker salaries growing?

Documentary Filmmaker salaries are growing at 5.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Media40% remote-eligible+5.5% YoY growth

Documentary Filmmaker Salary
by City (2026)

Research, produce, and direct documentary films and long-form video content. National median: $65K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$65K

Top 10% earn

$175K

Entry level

$42K

Salary growth

+5.5%/yr

Documentary Filmmaker salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$79K	$122K	$196K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$78K	$120K	$194K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$78K	$120K	$194K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$74K	$114K	$184K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$72K	$112K	$181K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$69K	$107K	$173K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$69K	$107K	$173K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$68K	$105K	$170K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$66K	$103K	$166K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$65K	$101K	$163K	155	11%
San Francisco, CA	$63K	$98K	$158K	224	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$63K	$98K	$158K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$62K	$96K	$155K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$62K	$96K	$155K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$61K	$94K	$152K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$61K	$94K	$152K	145	10.75%
San Jose, CA	$60K	$92K	$149K	210	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$59K	$91K	$147K	163	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$59K	$91K	$147K	140	10.75%
Oakland, CA	$58K	$90K	$145K	185	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$58K	$90K	$145K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$58K	$90K	$145K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$58K	$90K	$145K	138	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$53K	$81K	$131K	155	9.3%
Washington, DC	$53K	$81K	$131K	152	8.5%
Jersey City, NJ	$53K	$81K	$131K	162	10.75%
New Haven, CT	$51K	$79K	$128K	122	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$50K	$78K	$126K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$50K	$78K	$126K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$50K	$78K	$126K	155	10.75%
Nashua, NH	$50K	$78K	$126K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	None ✓
Boston, MA	$50K	$77K	$124K	162	5%
Lowell, MA	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	5%
Arlington, VA	$50K	$77K	$124K	148	5.75%
Portland, OR	$50K	$77K	$124K	130	9.9%
Gresham, OR	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$50K	$77K	$124K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$48K	$75K	$121K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$48K	$75K	$121K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$48K	$75K	$121K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$48K	$75K	$121K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$48K	$75K	$121K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$48K	$75K	$121K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$48K	$75K	$121K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$48K	$75K	$121K	115	5.99%
Sacramento, CA	$47K	$73K	$118K	128	9.3%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$47K	$73K	$118K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$47K	$73K	$118K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$47K	$73K	$118K	112	4.75%
Miami, FL	$46K	$72K	$116K	123	None ✓
Denver, CO	$46K	$72K	$116K	118	4.55%
Eugene, OR	$46K	$72K	$116K	110	9.9%
Honolulu, HI	$46K	$72K	$116K	192	11%
Austin, TX	$45K	$70K	$113K	110	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$45K	$70K	$113K	108	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$45K	$70K	$113K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$45K	$70K	$113K	118	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$45K	$70K	$113K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$45K	$70K	$113K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$45K	$70K	$113K	108	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$45K	$70K	$113K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$45K	$70K	$113K	110	3.07%
Boise, ID	$45K	$70K	$113K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$45K	$70K	$113K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$44K	$68K	$110K	105	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$44K	$68K	$110K	118	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$44K	$68K	$110K	128	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$44K	$68K	$110K	99	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$44K	$68K	$110K	105	5%
Nashville, TN	$44K	$68K	$110K	102	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$44K	$68K	$110K	106	6.8%
Salem, OR	$44K	$68K	$110K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$44K	$68K	$110K	105	None ✓
Baltimore, MD	$44K	$68K	$110K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$44K	$68K	$110K	118	6.99%
Meridian, ID	$44K	$68K	$110K	105	5.8%
Dallas, TX	$43K	$66K	$107K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$43K	$66K	$107K	105	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$43K	$66K	$107K	102	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$43K	$66K	$107K	112	4.55%
St. Paul, MN	$43K	$66K	$107K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$43K	$66K	$107K	105	4.85%
Missoula, MT	$43K	$66K	$107K	102	6.75%
Anchorage, AK	$43K	$66K	$107K	128	None ✓
Denton, TX	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$42K	$65K	$105K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$42K	$65K	$105K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	4.75%
Rochester, MN	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$65K	$105K	102	None ✓
West Jordan, UT	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	6.6%
McKinney, TX	$41K	$64K	$103K	108	None ✓
Albany, NY	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$41K	$64K	$103K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$41K	$64K	$103K	100	4.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$41K	$64K	$103K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$41K	$64K	$103K	98	7.15%
Houston, TX	$40K	$62K	$100K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$40K	$62K	$101K	93	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$40K	$62K	$100K	94	None ✓
Irving, TX	$40K	$62K	$101K	97	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$40K	$62K	$100K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$40K	$62K	$100K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$40K	$62K	$100K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$40K	$62K	$100K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$40K	$62K	$100K	95	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$40K	$62K	$100K	90	3.07%
Allentown, PA	$40K	$62K	$100K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$40K	$62K	$100K	102	5.3%
Reno, NV	$40K	$62K	$101K	108	None ✓
Charleston, SC	$40K	$62K	$101K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$40K	$62K	$100K	95	6.5%
Mesa, AZ	$39K	$61K	$99K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$39K	$61K	$99K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$39K	$61K	$99K	90	3.99%
Garland, TX	$39K	$60K	$97K	91	None ✓
Midland, TX	$39K	$60K	$97K	92	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$39K	$60K	$97K	93	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$39K	$60K	$97K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$39K	$60K	$97K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$39K	$60K	$97K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$39K	$60K	$97K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$39K	$60K	$97K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$39K	$60K	$97K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$39K	$60K	$97K	92	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$39K	$60K	$97K	92	6%
Cheyenne, WY	$39K	$60K	$97K	92	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$38K	$59K	$95K	87	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$38K	$59K	$95K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	6.85%
Tallahassee, FL	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	4.95%
Detroit, MI	$38K	$59K	$95K	82	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$38K	$59K	$95K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$37K	$57K	$92K	92	5.75%
Greensboro, NC	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$37K	$57K	$92K	85	5%
Lexington, KY	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	5%
Huntsville, AL	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$36K	$56K	$90K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$36K	$56K	$90K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$36K	$56K	$90K	90	4.25%
Des Moines, IA	$36K	$56K	$90K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$36K	$56K	$90K	88	5.84%
Corpus Christi, TX	$36K	$55K	$89K	84	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$36K	$55K	$89K	90	2.5%
Winston-Salem, NC	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	4.75%
Memphis, TN	$36K	$55K	$89K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$35K	$55K	$88K	85	None ✓
Warren, MI	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	5.3%
Birmingham, AL	$35K	$55K	$88K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$35K	$55K	$88K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$35K	$55K	$88K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$35K	$55K	$88K	88	6%
Lafayette, LA	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	5.84%
Albuquerque, NM	$36K	$55K	$89K	88	5.9%
Rio Rancho, NM	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$36K	$55K	$89K	85	4.9%
El Paso, TX	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	5%
Tulsa, OK	$34K	$53K	$86K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	4.82%
Wichita, KS	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$34K	$52K	$84K	78	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$34K	$52K	$84K	80	5%
Little Rock, AR	$34K	$52K	$84K	82	4.9%
Abilene, TX	$33K	$51K	$82K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$33K	$51K	$82K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$33K	$51K	$82K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$33K	$51K	$82K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$33K	$51K	$82K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$33K	$51K	$82K	78	6.5%
Laredo, TX	$32K	$49K	$79K	76	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$32K	$49K	$79K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$32K	$49K	$79K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$32K	$49K	$79K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $65K Documentary Filmmaker salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Documentary Filmmaker Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Documentary Filmmaker is $65,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $42,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $105,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Documentary Filmmakers nationally earn $175,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Film or Journalism; production portfolio. This role is 40% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Documentary Filmmaker compensation is growing at 5.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Documentary Filmmakers significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Documentary Filmmaker Salaryby City (2026)