Show Runners
Overview
Introduction
Show runners manage the day-to-day operations of a television series (which can include those produced for network and cable television and streaming channels such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon). They manage every aspect of the show—from preproduction to post-production. Show runners are a type of executive producer but have ultimate authority over other executive producers, as well as the show’s director or directors, writers, and actors. They report directly to studio executives. A show runner may or may not be the show’s writer or...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Producers who work in television broadcasting earned mean annual salaries of $80,390 in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Those who were employed by companies that provided cable and other subscription programming made $92,910. But the aforementioned salaries are for television producers at all levels, as well as for those who work in the news sector, so show runners typically ha...
Work Environment
A career as a show runner can be rewarding. They are paid millions of dollars a year to pursue their creative dreams, and some show runners (such as Shonda Rimes, Kenya Barris, JJ Abrams, Ava DuVernay, and Greg Berlanti) have become as famous as directors (and some also work as directors). This is all great, but there are many challenges in this career. Because they oversee the daily operations...
Outlook
Employment for producers and directors is expected to grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDL). The USDL says that “the volume of TV shows is expected to grow as the number of online-only platforms, such as streaming services, increases along with the number of shows produced for these platforms. This growth should lead to ...
