Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Producers and Director's pay go, state by state?
A Producers and Director's pay leaves the most room in New Jersey — about $7,238/mo take-home against $1,656/mo typical rent — and the least in West Virginia.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $7,238/mo | $1,656/mo | 23% |
| New York | $6,712/mo | $1,621/mo | 24% |
| California | $6,830/mo | $1,969/mo | 29% |
| District of Columbia | $6,352/mo | $1,900/mo | 30% |
| Connecticut | $5,490/mo | $1,483/mo | 27% |
| Georgia | $4,981/mo | $1,320/mo | 27% |
| Nevada | $5,133/mo | $1,478/mo | 29% |
| Illinois | $4,898/mo | $1,246/mo | 25% |
| Rhode Island | $4,938/mo | $1,289/mo | 26% |
| Maine | $4,752/mo | $1,104/mo | 23% |
| Oregon | $4,915/mo | $1,431/mo | 29% |
| Washington | $5,091/mo | $1,641/mo | 32% |
| Florida | $4,991/mo | $1,542/mo | 31% |
| Maryland | $4,935/mo | $1,683/mo | 34% |
| Colorado | $4,872/mo | $1,659/mo | 34% |
| Missouri | $4,134/mo | $997/mo | 24% |
| Minnesota | $4,241/mo | $1,230/mo | 29% |
| Pennsylvania | $4,168/mo | $1,176/mo | 28% |
| Utah | $4,321/mo | $1,396/mo | 32% |
| Tennessee | $3,963/mo | $1,111/mo | 28% |
| Wisconsin | $3,881/mo | $1,033/mo | 27% |
| Massachusetts | $4,554/mo | $1,716/mo | 38% |
| Ohio | $3,785/mo | $986/mo | 26% |
| New Hampshire | $4,219/mo | $1,424/mo | 34% |
| North Carolina | $3,938/mo | $1,147/mo | 29% |
| Michigan | $3,804/mo | $1,072/mo | 28% |
| South Dakota | $3,619/mo | $910/mo | 25% |
| Texas | $4,019/mo | $1,328/mo | 33% |
| Alaska | $4,025/mo | $1,361/mo | 34% |
| Louisiana | $3,627/mo | $1,028/mo | 28% |
| South Carolina | $3,730/mo | $1,131/mo | 30% |
| Kansas | $3,579/mo | $1,025/mo | 29% |
| Alabama | $3,520/mo | $967/mo | 27% |
| Nebraska | $3,485/mo | $1,017/mo | 29% |
| Wyoming | $3,442/mo | $979/mo | 28% |
| Vermont | $3,658/mo | $1,207/mo | 33% |
| Virginia | $3,998/mo | $1,547/mo | 39% |
| Kentucky | $3,314/mo | $918/mo | 28% |
| Montana | $3,425/mo | $1,031/mo | 30% |
| Iowa | $3,324/mo | $932/mo | 28% |
| Arkansas | $3,269/mo | $903/mo | 28% |
| Oklahoma | $3,316/mo | $970/mo | 29% |
| Arizona | $3,641/mo | $1,419/mo | 39% |
| Hawaii | $4,076/mo | $1,927/mo | 47% |
| North Dakota | $2,991/mo | $911/mo | 30% |
| Indiana | $3,091/mo | $1,022/mo | 33% |
| Idaho | $3,123/mo | $1,163/mo | 37% |
| Mississippi | $2,791/mo | $933/mo | 33% |
| West Virginia | $2,535/mo | $848/mo | 33% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.