Highest-Paying Production Assistant Jobs [2023]

Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of production assistants that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.

Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of production assistants:

• Production Coordinator is the highest-paid type of production assistant with an average salary of $49,366 and an average hourly rate of $23.73.

• The second highest-paying type of production assistant is production specialist, with an average salary of $42,090.

• The average production assistant salary is $33,405 per year, and the average hourly pay is $16.06.

Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs

Background

Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a production assistant, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of production assistants are so that you can plan your career progression.

Here are the top salaries for different types of production assistants:

1. Production Coordinator

   Average Salary: $49,366

   A production coordinator’s role will vary depending on the industry or line of work. A production coordinator serves as the entire crew’s primary point of contact on television and film sets. Among their primary responsibilities is to ensure that everyone gets to receive the necessary reports, daily schedule, and urgent reminders. Moreover, a production coordinator also has to manage the budget, reach out to food caterers, prepare the transportation and location, handle the accommodation and equipment rentals, process the billing, and even secure the necessary permits and documentation.

2. Production Specialist

   Average Salary: $42,090

   Production specialists are responsible for planning and managing the production activities of a company based on job orders. They provide support to the operations department and collaborate with supervisors to create production plans and identity workflow requirements. Other responsibilities may include managing existing workflow, organizing job training to the production team, and monitoring and reporting job status to customers. Production specialists are also expected to respond to customer concerns and inquiries, ensure the timely delivery of products, and ensure that products meet quality standards.

3. Assistant

   Average Salary: $37,363

   An assistant intern is responsible for facilitating administrative and clerical tasks as assigned by the management. Assistant interns’ duties include keeping records of meetings, receiving calls and handling customer inquiries, assisting on writing reports and data entry processing, cooperating and providing support for business events, and adhering to company policies and regulatory procedures. Successful assistant interns must have excellent time-management, multi-tasking, and communication skills. They must be a team player and fast-learner to handle various tasks in the corporate industry.

4. Freelance Production Assistant

   Average Salary: $35,255

   A freelance production assistant performs support tasks for television and film production crews during production stages. Their responsibilities typically include disseminating materials to various crew members, gathering props, coordinating with caterers and other contractors, preparing and cleaning sets, and running errands as needed. There are also instances where they may process documents, travel to various locations, and assist performers. Moreover, a freelance production assistant must maintain an active communication line with the entire production team to maintain a smooth and efficient workflow.

5. Manufacturing Associate

   Average Salary: $34,830

   Manufacturing associates typically have varied duties and responsibilities. These include preparing materials and equipment for production, operating manufacturing equipment such as washers, and maintaining material inventory. In addition, they are responsible for inspecting purchased equipment, parts, and components, and participating in process investigations. They also review and execute documents related to manufacturing and determine any problems in the manufacturing process. To become a successful manufacturing associate, you should have skills in good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliance, aseptic processing, and biotechnology.

Below is a full table of the average pay for various production assistant that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Production Assistants

Methodology

Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.

Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for production assistants.

Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Production Assistant Jobs FAQs

1. What is the highest-paid production assistant job?

   The highest-paid production assistant job is a production coordinator. Production Coordinators earn an average salary of $49,366, which is $ 23.73 hourly.

   A production coordinator’s role will vary depending on the industry or line of work. A production coordinator serves as the entire crew’s primary point of contact on television and film sets. Among their primary responsibilities is to ensure that everyone gets to receive the necessary reports, daily schedule, and urgent reminders. Moreover, a production coordinator also has to manage the budget, reach out to food caterers, prepare the transportation and location, handle the accommodation and equipment rentals, process the billing, and even secure the necessary permits and documentation.

2. What is a good salary for a production assistant?

   A good salary for a production assistant is $33,405 or more. The average production assistant salary is $33,405, so those making at least $33,405 are earning above-average paychecks.

   Keep in mind, however, that the average production assistant salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.

   In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a production assistant, the average entry level salary is $27,341, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $33,405 average, as this includes all production assistants of all skill and experience levels.

3. Do Production Assistant jobs pay well?

   No, production assistant jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some production assistant jobs pay better than others, but the average production assistant salary of $33,405 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.

   In addition to this, many production assistant jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of production assistants earning $41,631 a year on average.

   Production Assistants’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a production assistant. Do your research on the going rate for a production assistant in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.

4. Where do production assistants get paid the most?

   Production Assistants get paid the most in Connecticut. In Connecticut, production assistants earn an average annual salary of $43,573 and an average hourly wage of $20.95.

   Following CT, the states with the highest-paid production assistants are Idaho, Maine, and Minnesota, with average annual salaries of $36,552, $36,307, and $36,355 respectively.

   The cities with the highest-paid production assistant salaries are:

   1. Bristol, CT – $43,664

   2. New York, NY – $42,636

   3. San Francisco, CA – $39,700

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.