41 Production Roles for TV and Film Industry Professionals
Updated April 18, 2024
7 production roles
Production roles are jobs that involve the filing process of the movie or show. Here are seven jobs to consider if you're interested in working in this phase of a film project. For the most up-to-date Indeed salaries, please click on the links below:1. Actor
National average salary: $80,056 per yearPrimary duties: An actor is a theater professional who performs on a stage or set in plays, movies, shows and other film productions. Actors often have part-time schedules, so they may have other jobs to supplement their income. The primary duties of an actor typically include reading scripts, memorizing lines, rehearsing with other cast members and taking direction from the crew.2. Producer
National average salary: $56,836 per yearPrimary duties: A producer is a film professional who develops a plan for a project and manages each step until its completion. The primary duties of a producer may include sourcing project ideas, developing concepts into plans, hiring crew members, establishing a budget and overseeing every stage of the production process.3. Animator
National average salary: $70,820 per yearPrimary duties: An animator is a professional illustrator who specializes in creating image series that simulate movement for animated shows and films. Some primary duties of an animator often include drawing original characters, creating storyboards that explain narratives, using software programs to create 3D animations of their drawings and communicating with colleagues and clients to ensure they meet project specifications.Read more: Learn About Being an Animator4. Cinematographer
National average salary: $53,239 per yearPrimary duties: A cinematographer is a videography professional who films scenes for movies, advertisements, TV shows and other performances. Also known as a director of photography (DP), other primary duties of a cinematographer may include managing the film crew, instructing cast members during filming, adjusting lighting and camera functions and working with editing crews to complete projects.5. Hairstylist
National average salary: $31,468 per yearPrimary duties: A hairstylist is a cosmetology professional who cuts and styles their clients' hair. The primary duties of a hairstylist on a film set may include coloring and styling an actor's hair for a specific role, helping actors maintain their hair throughout the production process, fixing hairstyles between shoots to ensure continuity and styling actors' hair for promotional events, such as premieres.Read more: Learn About Being a Hairstylist6. Makeup artist
National average salary: $46,341 per yearPrimary duties: A makeup artist is a cosmetology professional who applies cosmetics to a person's face to enhance or change their appearance. On a film set, a makeup artist may apply stage makeup to an actor's face or body, retouch an actor's makeup between sets and use makeup to create special effects, such as wrinkles or wounds, to prepare an actor for a role or scene.7. Director
National average salary: $89,573 per yearPrimary duties: A director is a cosmetology professional who manages the production of a film or show from a creative perspective. Their primary duties typically include working with other film crew members to ensure each element of the production process aligns correctly, guiding actors on how to convey scenes effectively and overseeing editing crews that blend shots together during postproduction.6 preproduction roles
Preproduction involves the steps a film crew takes to prepare a movie or show for production. Here are six jobs to explore in preproduction:1. Production assistant
National average salary: $48,292 per yearPrimary duties: A production assistant (PA) is an entry-level film professional who assists with miscellaneous duties during production. PAs can work in different departments, such as set, makeup, costume, office and art. The primary duties of a production assistant depend on the specific role, but they typically involve administrative and maintenance tasks like cleanup, running errands and managing documents.Read more: Learn About Being a Production Assistant2. Writer
National average salary: $57,379 per yearPrimary duties: A writer is a person who creates texts to communicate ideas. There are different types of texts writers might create, including novels, textbooks and proposals. Writers who work in the film industry typically write scripts and screenplays, use inspiration from other types of works to adapt the concepts into screenplays and work with media companies to create commissioned shows or plays.3. Assistant director
National average salary: $59,537 per yearPrimary duties: An assistant director (AD) or first assistant director (1st AD) is a support professional who performs tasks for producers on TV and movie sets. Their primary duties often include managing the shooting schedule, creating shot lists, creating and sharing film crew call sheets, examining scripts to ensure they have the resources for each scene and monitoring the progress according to the project schedule.4. Art director
National average salary: $77,358 per yearPrimary duties: An art director is a film industry professional who manages the visual appearances of an animated or live-action movie or show. Their primary duties may include examining the script to develop plans for visual elements like lighting and color schemes, designing sets, overseeing the construction of sets and ensuring the finished project aligns with their artistic goals.Read more: Learn About Being an Art Director5. Talent acquisition manager
National average salary: $71,204 per yearPrimary duties: A talent acquisition manager is a recruitment professional who seeks candidates who may be a good fit for specific roles. In the film industry, common duties of a talent acquisition manager may include sourcing actors and crew members for projects, interviewing candidates to make sure they suit the roles, recommending cast and crew members to casting managers and handling employment concerns throughout the project.6. Casting manager
National average salary: $118,704 per yearPrimary duties: A casting manager is a recruitment professional responsible for hiring cast and crew members for roles on a TV or movie set. Their primary duties may include communicating with talent acquisition managers about candidates who may be suitable for open roles, interviewing candidates, hosting auditions for potential cast members and hiring actors and film professionals for projects.4 postproduction roles
A postproduction job is one you complete after the crew finishes producing the film. Here are four common postproduction roles to consider:1. Sound engineer
National average salary: $56,314 per yearPrimary duties: A sound engineer is an engineering professional who specializes in recording and manipulating music, effects and other sounds for a production. Sound engineers in the film industry typically perform duties like recording sound effects, including sound effects in shows and movies, adjusting the volume and pitch of the characters' voices to suit the scenes and working with editors to incorporate sound effects and music into the production efficiently.2. Audiovisual technician
National average salary: $67,282 per yearPrimary duties: An audiovisual technician or AV technician is a technical professional who specializes in establishing and maintaining electrical systems for audio and visual production. The primary duties of an AV technician may include operating microphones and speakers, adjusting lighting, using software programs to manage AV processes and setting up, arranging and troubleshooting AV equipment as needed.3. Editor
National average salary: $60,598 per yearPrimary duties: An editor is a professional who ensures the quality of the production before its release. On a film set, an editor usually works with other crew members to review footage, change it as necessary to reflect specifications and confirm its completion with each department before finishing the project. Film editors may work in different areas, including cinematography, sound and music.4. Visual designer
National average salary: $81,751 per yearPrimary duties: A visual designer is a design professional who creates graphics for movies, TV shows and commercials. Similar to a graphic designer, the primary duties of a visual designer may include creating images and videos for use within film production, designing visual concepts for a set or props, helping identify shooting locations that suit the project's aesthetic and developing promotional materials for the project.Prepare for interviews with practice questions and tips
24 more film production roles to consider
There are many other roles you might pursue if you want a job in the film industry. Here are 24 other production roles to review when researching career options:- Costume designer
- Composer
- Set designer
- Music manager
- Line producer
- Executive producer
- Location scout
- Production manager
- Wardrobe assistant
- Second assistant director
- Set decorator
- Colorist
- Construction Coordinator
- Propmaster
- Director of photography
- Gaffer
- Best boy
- Electrician
- Key grip
- Stunt performer
- Boom operator
- Promoter
- Talent agent
- Dialogue editor
Photo, film & video editors
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