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How to hire an assistant producer

Assistant producer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring assistant producers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire an assistant producer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per assistant producer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 8,782 assistant producers in the US, and there are currently 10,256 job openings in this field.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for assistant producers, with 6 job openings.

How to hire an assistant producer, step by step

To hire an assistant producer, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an assistant producer, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step assistant producer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an assistant producer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant producer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an assistant producer do?

In the entertainment industry, an assistant producer is in charge of overseeing production operations and coordinating staff, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They typically manage the schedules and hiring procedures, write and edit production materials, arrange meetings with internal and external parties, procure supplies, and develop strategies to optimize production operations. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, obtaining permits, and even disseminating information. Furthermore, an assistant producer may also participate in establishing policies and regulations for a safe and efficient work environment.

Learn more about the specifics of what an assistant producer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an assistant producer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect assistant producer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list presents assistant producer salaries for various positions.

    Type of Assistant ProducerDescriptionHourly rate
    Assistant ProducerProducers and directors create motion pictures, television shows, live theater, commercials, and other performing arts productions. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain or inform an audience.$15-29
    Camera OperatorA camera operator is responsible for operating various technical equipment to support technical operations, such as media productions and live events. Camera operators must have extensive knowledge of different camera features to select the appropriate device and manage the production's overall visual presentation... Show more$12-35
    Photographer, EditorA Photographer, Editor selects, edits, and positions photos in print and web publications. They work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other publications.$17-34
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Video Production
    • Web Content
    • Audio Clips
    • Production Schedules
    • QA
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • News Stories
    • Photography
    • Production Process
    • Mac
    • Adobe Audition
    • Video Content
    • Live Events
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Facilitate and manage CNN weekend editorial team of freelance editorial producers.
    • Research relevant theme source b-roll video and book relevant interviews and shoots.
    • Used information to compile competitive quarterly reviews using Microsoft PowerPoint.
    • Collaborate with production to streamline and track internal booking calendars.
    • Negotiate copyediting, proofreading, typesetting/layout, and art rendering services at substantial cost savings to the company.
    • Develop story ideas and create highlights and feature packages for specialty shows including SportsCenter, NFL PrimeTime and NBA2Night.
    More assistant producer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the assistant producer job description is a good way to get more applicants. An assistant producer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for an assistant producer in Tennessee may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level assistant producer. Additionally, an assistant producer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average assistant producer salary

    $45,231yearly

    $21.75 hourly rate

    Entry-level assistant producer salary
    $32,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average assistant producer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Connecticut$59,365$29
    2New York$59,052$28
    3California$58,877$28
    4Nevada$58,835$28
    5District of Columbia$55,817$27
    6Washington$47,306$23
    7Maryland$43,803$21
    8Virginia$41,034$20
    9Massachusetts$40,481$19
    10Colorado$38,945$19
    11Illinois$38,501$19
    12Arkansas$36,877$18
    13Texas$36,847$18
    14Florida$34,448$17
    15Mississippi$33,982$16
    16Michigan$33,719$16
    17Ohio$32,923$16

    Average assistant producer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1PlayStation$74,102$35.632
    2Electronic Arts$72,725$34.96
    3Accenture$65,569$31.52
    4TBWA Worldwide$65,016$31.26
    5Travelzoo$63,259$30.412
    6Whitney Museum of American Art$59,334$28.53
    7The Cato Institute$53,383$25.66
    8Louisiana Companies$52,278$25.13
    9WarnerMedia$46,600$22.40
    10*n/a*$46,354$22.29
    11CREATETHE GROUP$45,651$21.95
    12Warner Bros.$45,549$21.9043
    13WNYC$44,649$21.47
    14Original Productions$44,236$21.27
    15Nintendo$44,079$21.19
    16Rue Gilt Groupe$43,729$21.021
    17American Public Media Group$42,745$20.551
    18Green$40,561$19.50
    19P&S Surgical Hospital$40,426$19.443
    20Mollie Stone's Markets$39,631$19.05
  4. Writing an assistant producer job description

    An assistant producer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an assistant producer job description:

    Assistant producer job description example

    Mollie Stone’s Markets is a local, family owned grocery store chain in the San Francisco Bay area, serving customers since 1986. With over 30 years of exemplary performance in the market, Mollie Stone’s continues to make a difference in people’s lives through food. Currently maintaining 9 Grocery Stores, a Produce Warehouse and Headquarters in Mill Valley, CA, we succeed in the industry by ensuring we deliver a large variety of exciting and quality products in an attractive and positive environment.

    About the Role:

    Mollie Stone’s Markets is looking for an Assistant Produce Buyer that is willing to be cross-trained in most buying functions as well as support in-store merchandising for nine Mollie Stone’s Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area. Warehouse experience is a plus.

    This is a hands-on position that will require an individual who is willing to learn all aspects of our current buying structure as well as work alongside produce personnel at store level, along with the employees in the warehouse, and lead by example while driving efficiency. This position is located at our Produce Distribution Center (PDC).

    Essential Functions:

    • Collaborate with the Produce Buyer to assist in the regular weekly buying.
    • Assist with inventory, receiving, distribution, and overall management of the PDC.
    • Accountable for financial goals and operational targets through accurate receiving, storage, and distribution of goods.
    • Provide merchandising support at stores.
    • Create and execute seasonal merchandising schematics for stores.
    • Motivate and assist in leading a team of 6-10 people.
    • Ensure quality of product received and control inventory quality to company standards.
    • Occasionally work graveyard shifts to support warehouse operations.
    • Lead staff safety and development.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    • 3-5 years of produce buying experience
    • 5 years of experience in a retail/wholesale produce environment
    • Extensive knowledge of the receiving and purchasing processes
    • Proven experience and understanding of systems, computers, and accounting (Silver Creek experience a plus)
    • Excellent communication skills
    • Ability to work with a diverse team where timing and attention to detail are critical
    • Demonstrated leadership experience
    • Must be willing to work hands-on
    • Bilingual in Spanish and English a plus

    Competencies:

    • Ability to manage confidentiality with integrity.
    • Effective written and oral communication
    • Organizational ability

    Physical Requirements:

    • Must be able to regularly lift at least 50 lbs.
    • Standing: Up to 3 hours per day.
    • Seating: Up to 8 hours per day.Walking: Up to 3 hours per day.
    • Reaching: Up to 1 hour per day
    • Please be aware that you may be required to wear Covid-19 related PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as mandated by Company Policy.

    Why should you apply?

    • You want to enjoy what you do.
    • You would like to join a local, family owned company who values you.
    • You’ll have opportunity to learn, grow and advance in your career.

    Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time.

    Mollie Stone’s Markets is an Equal Opportunity Employer

    Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right assistant producer for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your assistant producer job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant producer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit assistant producers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant producer

    Once you've selected the best assistant producer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an assistant producer?

There are different types of costs for hiring assistant producers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new assistant producer employee.

You can expect to pay around $45,231 per year for an assistant producer, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for assistant producers in the US typically range between $15 and $29 an hour.

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