How To Become An Assistant Stage Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant stage manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average assistant stage manager salary is $43,348. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an theatre major. It usually takes 6-12 months of experience to become an assistant stage manager. Assistant stage managers with a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 8% and produce 12,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreAssistant Stage ManagerUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,348

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.2

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 6.40%

Black or African American 7.96%

Hispanic or Latino 14.62%

Unknown 5.59%

White 65.26%

Gender

female 64.79%

male 35.21%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

9.2

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assistant stage manager

Explore assistant stage manager education requirements

Most common assistant stage manager degrees

Bachelor's

73.5 %

Associate

10.0 %

High School Diploma

10.0 %

Start to develop specific assistant stage manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Live Performances	24.57%
Technical Aspects	11.15%
Costumes	10.33%
Stage Management	9.13%
ASM	5.05%

Complete relevant assistant stage manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant stage managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant stage manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant stage manager resumes.

Research assistant stage manager duties and responsibilities

Work with SFX manager/costume technician to make and manage costumes and props, replenishing single- use props as needed.
Maintain and occasionally style wigs.
Construct costume, style wigs and apply makeup.
Reduce and control expenses by monitoring inventory and FTE's.

Prepare your assistant stage manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant stage manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant stage manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable assistant stage manager resume templates

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