Talent Directors Career, Salary and Skills
Talent Directors have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $90,360 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 143,120. Wage data is published for 265 locations.
Occupation description
Audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
O*NET code
27-2012.04
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$90,360
Hourly median
$43.44
Employment
143,120
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 3.50 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Negotiation | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Writing | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Coordination | 3.25 | 3.38 |
Typical tasks
- Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
- Prepare actors for auditions by providing scripts and information about roles and casting requirements.
- Select performers for roles or submit lists of suitable performers to producers or directors for final selection.
- Contact agents and actors to provide notification of audition and performance opportunities and to set up audition times.
- Serve as liaisons between directors, actors, and agents.
- Negotiate contract agreements with performers, with agents, or between performers and agents or production companies.
- Arrange for or design screen tests or auditions for prospective performers.
- Review performer information, such as photos, resumes, voice tapes, videos, and union membership, to decide whom to audition for parts.
Technology
- AgencyPro
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Appointment scheduling software
- Blogging software
- Database software
- Email software
- Linux
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Oracle Java
- Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
Talent Directors salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Talent Directors Salary in CAMedian $129,790 · Employment 34,110
- Talent Directors Salary in NYMedian $107,550 · Employment 27,990
- Talent Directors Salary in New York, NYMedian $108,460 · Employment 27,020
- Talent Directors Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $131,600 · Employment 21,910
- Talent Directors Salary in FLMedian $79,920 · Employment 7,160
- Talent Directors Salary in TXMedian $71,710 · Employment 6,610
- Talent Directors Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $130,640 · Employment 5,030
- Talent Directors Salary in GAMedian $79,950 · Employment 5,010
- Talent Directors Salary in Washington, DCMedian $100,270 · Employment 4,230
- Talent Directors Salary in PAMedian $75,460 · Employment 4,200
- Talent Directors Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $79,950 · Employment 3,840
- Talent Directors Salary in NCMedian $63,700 · Employment 3,500
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- Training and Development ManagersNational median $133,000
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysNational median $47,340
- Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersNational median $61,160
- Advertising and Promotions ManagersNational median $133,660
- Instructional CoordinatorsNational median $77,440
- Training and Development SpecialistsNational median $69,280
- Human Resources SpecialistsNational median $75,940
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.