Q: Do assistant directors get paid?

Yes, assistant directors get paid. Since most movie sets are too large for one director to manage, most have one or more assistant directors. Assistant movie directors are primarily responsible for scheduling the times for filming, supervising the cast and crew, editing film, and assisting directors with scripts and casting.

Q: Is it hard to become an assistant director?

Yes, it is hard to become an assistant director. As with any role in the film industry, many people want to get into the same few positions, meaning it can be hard to become an assistant director without working and networking efficiently.

Question 1

How long does it take to become an Assistant Director?

Accepted Answer

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become an assistant director. That is the time it takes to learn specific assistant director skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become an assistant director.

Question 2

Do assistant directors get paid?

Accepted Answer

Yes, assistant directors get paid. Since most movie sets are too large for one director to manage, most have one or more assistant directors. Assistant movie directors are primarily responsible for scheduling the times for filming, supervising the cast and crew, editing film, and assisting directors with scripts and casting.

Question 3

Is it hard to become an assistant director?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is hard to become an assistant director. As with any role in the film industry, many people want to get into the same few positions, meaning it can be hard to become an assistant director without working and networking efficiently.

Question 4

What are the top three skills for an assistant director?

Accepted Answer

The top three skills for an assistant director include knowledge of film sets, communication skills, and the ability to multitask. Developing the right skill set is essential to find consistent work as an assistant director.

Question 5

Associate Director vs. Assistant Director

Accepted Answer

An associate director reports to the director and is in charge of creative decisions and creating business plans and policies, while an assistant director reports to the associate director and is responsible for daily operations.

Question 6

What is a good starting salary for an Assistant Director?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for an assistant director is $47,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for an assistant director in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for assistant directors is $75,620, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for an assistant director can vary by state.

Question 7

Can an assistant director make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as an assistant director. The chances of earning over $100k for an assistant director are actually pretty good because the highest-paid assistant director positions typically pay at least $121,000 per year. The average annual salary is $75,620 for assistant director jobs. For example, assistant directors in Connecticut whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $187,000.

Question 8

How much is an assistant director paid?

Accepted Answer

An assistant director is paid $60,000 per year, on average. However, assistant directors can earn significantly more in California (where most movies are filmed), typically making an average of $95,000 per year.

Question 9

What degree do you need to be an assistant director?

Accepted Answer

There are no formal degree requirements to be an assistant director. Like most jobs in the film industry, there is no formal education or degree required to become an assistant director; however, most assistant directors have both film school training and a significant amount of hands-on production experience in various other film capacities.

Question 10

What percentage of Assistant Directors are female?

Accepted Answer

61.5% of assistant directors are female in the United States. This is -1.1 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female assistant directors has increased by 1.0 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 11,865 female assistant directors in the U.S. and 7,428 male assistant directors in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 19,293 people with the specific job title of assistant director and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 11

How do I describe my assistant director job on a resume?

Accepted Answer

To describe your assistant director job on a resume, you need to include your technical and soft skills with discrete details and quantifiable accomplishments using applicant tracking system (ATS) friendly formatting and verbiage.

Question 12

What are the responsibilities of an assistant director?

Accepted Answer

The responsibilities of an assistant director are mostly managerial and logistical. Assistant film directors work underneath and report directly to the film's director. Their work is dynamic and diverse but typically falls under these two categories.

Frequently asked questions about assistant directors

Questions about becoming an assistant director