The Salary of an Assistant Director of Photography

Directors of photography often have experience working with camera equipment.

Directors of photography are also sometimes referred to as "cinematographers." They work with directors to give films or TV shows a specific look or visual theme using camera angles, lighting, camera equipment and post-production editing. They are also responsible for choosing appropriate lenses and equipment to fulfill the vision of how a film or show should look. Assistants typically earn significantly less, though gain valuable experience working alongside established cinematographers. They are also often called "production assistants."

Basic Salary Information

Cinematography production assistants are included in the same career category as camera operators and editors. The median salary for this group in 2010 was $40,390 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Because assistants typically have less experience than professional camera operators, the salary for an assistant director of photography, or cinematographer production assistant, is typically on the lower end of the overall salary range for camera operators and editors. The lowest-paid percentage earned $20,300 or less, while the lowest-paid quarter earned $28,240 or less per year.

Experience

As assistant directors of photography gain experience, they also typically earn more responsibilities on a set and receive pay increases. Assistants with little experience earn salaries on the low end of the range, but those with more experience might earn salaries at or higher than the median salary of $40,390. According to the BLS, the highest-paid quarter of camera operators earned $58,360 or more in 2010, while the top tier earned more than $81,270. Those who advance to become official directors of photography or cinematographers can earn the weekly median salary of $3,239, which equates to $168,428 a year, according to StateUniversitycom. The top cinematographers can earn millions of dollars a year.

Hourly Wages

Some assistant directors of photography and other production assistants on a film or TV set are paid hourly. According to the BLS, the median hourly wage for administrative assistants on motion picture and video sets was $21.31 in 2008. The average hourly wage for camera operators was $23.29. Assistants with little experience typically earn less, in the $9.76 to $13.58 hourly range.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for different positions in the motion picture and video industry varies, according to the BLS. Job opportunities for camera operators, which are closely tied to assistant directors of photography, are expected to increase 16.8 percent between 2008 and 2018. Administrative assistants in this industry will see a 13.3 percent increase. The key to this job is doing it well and accepting lower pay than you want in many cases. If you succeed as an assistant, you can advance to higher paying and more prestigious jobs on a movie set, such as cinematographer or even director.

References

• State University: Cinematographer/Director of Photography Job Description
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Motion Picture and Video Industries
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators and Editors