First Assistant Director: Runs the set: keeps the shooting schedule, calls 'Quiet on set!', and makes sure everyone is in the right place at the right time. Typical pay $120k.
Development Executive: Finds and shapes new movies and shows at studios, networks, and streamers, deciding which ideas get made. Typical pay $150k.
Film Finance Executive: Raises and manages the money for movies, using investors, loans, presales, and tax credits. Typical pay $150k.
Commercial Director: Directs TV and online commercials for brands, pitching visual ideas to ad agencies, running the shoot, and shaping the final edit. Typical pay $120k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Film Director: Leads the creative vision of a movie or TV episode, guiding actors and crew shot by shot. Typical pay $83k.
Film/TV Producer: Finds the story, raises the money, hires the team, and makes sure a project actually gets finished and released. Typical pay $83k.
Camera Operator: Physically runs the camera, framing and moving it to capture each shot the way the DP wants. Typical pay $62k.
First Assistant Camera (Focus Puller): Keeps every shot sharp by adjusting focus in real time as actors and the camera move, often without looking through the lens. Typical pay $95k.
Steadicam Operator: Wears a body-mounted camera rig that floats smoothly while they walk, run, or climb stairs with actors. Typical pay $105k.
Aerial / Drone Cinematographer: Flies camera drones to capture sweeping aerial shots for films, commercials, sports, and real estate. Typical pay $70k.
Digital Imaging Technician (DIT): Manages the camera's digital footage on set, checking image quality, color, and making sure nothing is ever lost. Typical pay $100k.
Script Supervisor: Tracks every detail of every take so scenes match when edited: which hand held the cup, what line was skipped, which take the director liked. Typical pay $85k.
Casting Director: Finds and recommends the actors for every role, from stars to one-line parts. Typical pay $85k.
Unit Still Photographer: Takes the official photos on a movie or TV set that become posters, press images, and behind-the-scenes shots. Typical pay $75k.
Production Coordinator: Runs the production office: travel, paperwork, equipment orders, and the daily call sheets that tell everyone where to be. Typical pay $62k.
Second Assistant Director: Runs the paperwork and people flow on a film set: call sheets, actor schedules, and getting everyone to set on time. Typical pay $95k.
Associate Producer: Helps producers with research, scheduling, footage, and logistics on films, TV shows, and documentaries. Typical pay $62k.
Documentary Filmmaker: Makes nonfiction films about real people, events, and issues. Typical pay $60k.
Music Video Director: Creates the visual concept and directs music videos for artists. Typical pay $60k.
Camera Crane Technician: Sets up and operates telescoping camera cranes and remote camera heads for sweeping film shots. Typical pay $90k.
Archival Producer: Finds historic footage, photos, and music for documentaries and licenses them. Typical pay $80k.
Starter: fastest way in
Production Assistant (PA): Does whatever the production needs: locking down streets, running walkie messages, grabbing coffee, and wrangling extras. Typical pay $40k.
Casting Assistant: Supports a casting office by scheduling auditions, running the camera during sessions, and organizing actor submissions. Typical pay $42k.
Video Assist Operator: Sets up the monitors on set so the director and crew can watch and replay takes instantly. Typical pay $54k.
Second Assistant Camera (Clapper Loader): Snaps the slate (clapperboard) before each take, keeps camera logs, and manages batteries, cards, and gear. Typical pay $54k.
Assistant to Producer or Director: Supports a busy producer or director with calls, schedules, scripts, and errands. Typical pay $48k.
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.