Also called: Documentary Director, Doc Producer
Makes nonfiction films about real people, events, and issues.
A documentary filmmaker might spend two years following a high school robotics team, then raise money and edit 300 hours of footage into a 90-minute film.
Very variable; grants, streaming deals, and commissioned work.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Film or journalism degree common; many self-taught.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Film Production, Journalism.
Growing about average. Streaming demand for docs is strong but competitive.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI helps with transcripts, logging and editing; earning subjects' trust, filming real life and shaping the story stay human.
Classes: History, Journalism, Film/video production CTE, English.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2012.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.