What Does a Television Production Manager Do?
Television production managers book the studios, crews and rental gear for every shoot, then keep spending inside the budget they drew up. Working from studios and production offices, they send out call sheets, secure permits and chase post-production deadlines for TV shows, streaming series, campus channels and corporate video. Most answer to an executive producer.
Also known as: Media Production Supervisor, Communications Production Manager
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Artistic Director, Director, Executive Producer, Multimedia Producer, News Producer, Producer, Production Director, Radio Producer.
Television Production Manager Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a television production manager include:
- Build production budgets and track spending on crew, equipment, studio time and post-production.
- Book studios, control rooms, crews and rental equipment for each shoot.
- Hire and schedule camera operators, audio technicians and editors, including freelancers.
- Prepare shooting schedules, call sheets and location permits so crews arrive ready.
- Negotiate rates with vendors, rental houses and freelance crew members.
- Oversee live studio productions and remote broadcasts, solving problems as they come up.
- Manage post-production schedules and delivery of finished programs to air or streaming platforms.
- Check contracts, music licenses and talent releases before programs are published.
- Keep equipment inventories and plan upgrades to cameras, switchers and editing systems.
- Report costs and progress to the executive producer or communications director.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a television production manager, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Production budgeting and cost tracking
- Scheduling tools such as Movie Magic
- Knowledge of studio and field production equipment
- Crew hiring and supervision
- Vendor negotiation
- Understanding of music licensing and releases
- Problem-solving during live productions
- Bachelor's degree in broadcasting, film or communications
Education and Training
A bachelor's degree in broadcasting, film or communications is typical. To do well in this role, you should have years as a production coordinator behind you and a flair for keeping budgets, crews and deadlines in line at the same time. Scheduling tools such as Movie Magic help.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $62,670 - $134,800 per year, with a median of $90,360.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Producers and Directors.
Figures for this job come from BLS data on producers and directors, which it projects to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 12,100 openings a year. Streaming, sports and corporate video keep production crews busy, and managers who can run tight budgets are more likely to move up to producer roles.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Producers and directors.
Television Production Manager Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $45,780 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $62,670 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $90,360 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $134,800 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $198,540 |
Highest-Paying States for Television Production Managers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are California ($129,790), New Jersey ($119,840), New York ($107,550), District of Columbia ($104,270), Connecticut ($88,260). Pay is lowest in Mississippi ($48,100), West Virginia ($46,660), Arkansas ($38,820).
Median pay in all 50 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $63,340 |
| Alaska | $54,060 |
| Arizona | $67,320 |
| Arkansas | $38,820 |
| California | $129,790 |
| Colorado | $78,060 |
| Connecticut | $88,260 |
| Delaware | $72,650 |
| District of Columbia | $104,270 |
| Florida | $79,920 |
| Georgia | $79,950 |
| Hawaii | $66,190 |
| Idaho | $61,150 |
| Illinois | $81,080 |
| Indiana | $59,870 |
| Iowa | $58,550 |
| Kansas | $60,600 |
| Kentucky | $54,550 |
| Louisiana | $62,920 |
| Maine | $71,320 |
| Maryland | $79,350 |
| Massachusetts | $80,970 |
| Michigan | $65,720 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 |
| Mississippi | $48,100 |
| Missouri | $66,460 |
| Montana | $52,580 |
| Nebraska | $52,580 |
| Nevada | $78,480 |
| New Hampshire | $61,560 |
| New Jersey | $119,840 |
| New York | $107,550 |
| North Carolina | $63,700 |
| North Dakota | $57,870 |
| Ohio | $69,350 |
| Oklahoma | $61,600 |
| Oregon | $87,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,460 |
| Rhode Island | $84,250 |
| South Carolina | $56,030 |
| South Dakota | $60,260 |
| Tennessee | $73,020 |
| Texas | $71,710 |
| Utah | $76,350 |
| Vermont | $55,660 |
| Virginia | $65,900 |
| Washington | $81,550 |
| West Virginia | $46,660 |
| Wisconsin | $66,390 |
| Wyoming | $60,420 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as producers and directors about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% use email every day
- 100% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 85% are on the phone every day
- 76% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 76% usually work more than 40 hours a week
- 73% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 73% work against deadlines every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 57% |
| High school diploma or GED | 15% |
| Associate's degree | 13% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 11% |
Tools and Software Television Production Managers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy creative work and self-expression as well as leading, persuading and making business decisions.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness.
Knowledge areas used most: Communications and Media, English Language, Telecommunications, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 27-2012.00 (Producers and Directors). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.