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
San Francisco, CA	$63K	$98K	$158K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$60K	$92K	$149K	210	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$59K	$91K	$147K	163	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$58K	$90K	$145K	185	9.3%
New York City, NY	$57K	$88K	$143K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$57K	$88K	$142K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$57K	$88K	$142K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$55K	$85K	$137K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$54K	$84K	$135K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$53K	$82K	$132K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$53K	$82K	$132K	165	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$53K	$81K	$131K	155	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$52K	$81K	$131K	162	None ✓
Washington, DC	$53K	$81K	$131K	152	8.5%
Jersey City, NJ	$53K	$81K	$131K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$51K	$80K	$129K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$51K	$79K	$127K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$50K	$78K	$126K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$50K	$78K	$126K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$50K	$78K	$126K	155	10.75%
Anaheim, CA	$50K	$77K	$124K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$50K	$77K	$125K	150	9.3%
Boston, MA	$50K	$77K	$124K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$50K	$77K	$124K	148	5.75%
Portland, OR	$50K	$77K	$124K	130	9.9%
Rockville, MD	$50K	$77K	$124K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$49K	$76K	$122K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$49K	$76K	$122K	145	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$48K	$74K	$119K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$48K	$74K	$120K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$48K	$74K	$119K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$48K	$74K	$119K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$47K	$73K	$118K	128	9.3%
Miami, FL	$46K	$72K	$116K	123	None ✓
Denver, CO	$46K	$72K	$116K	118	4.55%
Honolulu, HI	$46K	$72K	$116K	192	11%
Austin, TX	$45K	$70K	$113K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$45K	$70K	$113K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$45K	$70K	$113K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$45K	$70K	$113K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$45K	$70K	$113K	110	3.07%
New Haven, CT	$44K	$69K	$111K	122	6.99%
Frisco, TX	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$44K	$68K	$110K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$44K	$68K	$110K	128	None ✓
Vancouver, WA	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$44K	$68K	$110K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	5%
Nashville, TN	$44K	$68K	$110K	102	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$44K	$68K	$110K	106	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$44K	$68K	$110K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$44K	$68K	$110K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$44K	$68K	$110K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$44K	$68K	$109K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$43K	$67K	$108K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$43K	$67K	$108K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$43K	$67K	$108K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$43K	$67K	$108K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$43K	$67K	$108K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$43K	$67K	$108K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$43K	$67K	$108K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$43K	$67K	$108K	115	5.99%
Dallas, TX	$43K	$66K	$107K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$43K	$66K	$107K	105	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$43K	$66K	$106K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$43K	$66K	$107K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$43K	$66K	$106K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$43K	$66K	$106K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$43K	$66K	$107K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$43K	$66K	$107K	105	4.85%
Anchorage, AK	$43K	$66K	$107K	128	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$42K	$65K	$104K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$42K	$65K	$105K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$42K	$65K	$104K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$42K	$65K	$104K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$42K	$65K	$104K	108	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$42K	$65K	$105K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$42K	$65K	$105K	100	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$42K	$65K	$105K	110	9.9%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$65K	$105K	102	None ✓
Boise, ID	$42K	$65K	$104K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$42K	$65K	$104K	108	6.6%
McKinney, TX	$41K	$64K	$103K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$41K	$64K	$103K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$41K	$64K	$103K	100	4.75%
Salem, OR	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	None ✓
Provo, UT	$41K	$64K	$103K	100	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$41K	$64K	$103K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$41K	$63K	$101K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$41K	$63K	$101K	102	6.75%
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 ✓
Denton, TX	$40K	$62K	$100K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$40K	$62K	$100K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$40K	$62K	$100K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$40K	$62K	$100K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$40K	$62K	$100K	90	3.07%
Madison, WI	$40K	$62K	$100K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$40K	$62K	$100K	100	6.8%
Reno, NV	$40K	$62K	$101K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$40K	$62K	$100K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$40K	$62K	$101K	105	6.5%
Overland Park, KS	$40K	$62K	$100K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$40K	$62K	$99K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$40K	$62K	$100K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$39K	$61K	$98K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$39K	$61K	$98K	95	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$39K	$61K	$99K	98	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$39K	$61K	$98K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$39K	$61K	$98K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$39K	$61K	$99K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$39K	$61K	$98K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$39K	$61K	$99K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$39K	$61K	$98K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$39K	$61K	$98K	95	6.5%
Garland, TX	$39K	$60K	$97K	91	None ✓
Midland, TX	$39K	$60K	$96K	92	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$39K	$60K	$97K	93	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$39K	$60K	$97K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$39K	$60K	$96K	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	$96K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$39K	$60K	$96K	92	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$39K	$60K	$97K	92	6%
Cheyenne, WY	$39K	$60K	$96K	92	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$38K	$59K	$95K	87	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$38K	$59K	$96K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$38K	$59K	$95K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$38K	$59K	$95K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	6.85%
Tallahassee, FL	$38K	$59K	$96K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$38K	$59K	$96K	90	4.95%
Greensboro, NC	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$38K	$59K	$95K	82	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$38K	$59K	$96K	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%
Green Bay, WI	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$38K	$59K	$96K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$38K	$59K	$96K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$38K	$59K	$95K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$37K	$58K	$93K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	5.75%
Savannah, GA	$37K	$57K	$92K	92	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$37K	$57K	$92K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$37K	$57K	$92K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$37K	$57K	$92K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$36K	$56K	$90K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$36K	$56K	$90K	95	None ✓
Macon, GA	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$36K	$56K	$90K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$36K	$56K	$90K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$36K	$56K	$90K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$36K	$56K	$90K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$36K	$56K	$90K	78	6%
Des Moines, IA	$36K	$56K	$90K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$36K	$56K	$90K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$36K	$56K	$90K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$36K	$56K	$91K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$36K	$56K	$90K	78	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$36K	$55K	$89K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$35K	$55K	$88K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$36K	$55K	$89K	90	2.5%
Memphis, TN	$36K	$55K	$89K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$35K	$55K	$88K	85	None ✓
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%
Albuquerque, NM	$36K	$55K	$89K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$35K	$55K	$88K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$35K	$55K	$88K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$34K	$53K	$86K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$34K	$53K	$86K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$34K	$52K	$84K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$34K	$52K	$84K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$32K	$49K	$79K	76	None ✓

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 salary FAQ

How much does a Documentary Filmmaker make?

The median Documentary Filmmaker salary in the US is $65,000 per year — about $31/hour. Most earn between $42,000 (25th percentile) and $105,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Documentary Filmmaker?

Entry-level Documentary Filmmaker positions typically start around $42,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Documentary Filmmakers earn?

The top 10% of Documentary Filmmakers earn $175,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Documentary Filmmakers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Documentary Filmmaker salary at $98K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Documentary Filmmaker salaries going up?

Yes — Documentary Filmmaker pay is growing about 5.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Documentary Filmmaker Salaryby City (2026)