What is an Associate Producer?

An associate producer works for the entertainment industry under the supervision of a producer, helping him or her to create television programs or movies. Associate producers assist in working the scripts, see to it that props and equipment are ready and functional on the set, and they occasionally help the editor to make some final calls.

They contribute to preparing and pitching proposals for programs and stories, too. They collect ideas and material for the editorial content of programs, and managing the marketing campaigns of the programs and films is also their responsibility, as well as taking care of airing and screening copies.

Associate producer positions may sometimes be entry-level jobs. You will probably need a college degree in film, television, or media studies and a knack for screenwriting. Some familiarity with production software will come in handy as well, and of course, connections for landing the job in the first place.

What Does an Associate Producer Do

There are certain skills that many associate producers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed communication skills, creativity and leadership skills.

Learn more about what an Associate Producer does

How To Become an Associate Producer

If you're interested in becoming an associate producer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 63.9% of associate producers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 5.4% of associate producers have master's degrees. Even though most associate producers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Learn More About How To Become an Associate Producer
Top Associate Producer Jobs Near You

Associate Producer Career Paths

As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, an associate producer can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as producer, progress to a title such as owner and then eventually end up with the title marketing and creative director.

Associate Producer

Average Salary for an Associate Producer

Associate Producers in America make an average salary of $47,279 per year or $23 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $70,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $31,000 per year.
Average Associate Producer Salary
$47,279 Yearly
$22.73 hourly
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Roles and Types of Associate Producer

The role of an associate producer includes a wide range of responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary based on an individual's specific job, company, or industry.Here are some general associate producer responsibilities:

  • Associate producer assumes a supporting role during the preparation
  • Conduct quantitative and qualitative research on player habits, market trends,
  • Support our brand, movies, and cross-property (bmx) initiatives provide secondary support as needed on our live event digital experiences (kids’ choice awards, kids’ choice sports, halloween, the halo awards, worldwide day of play), brand initiatives,

There are several types of associate producer, including:

Photographer

Role:

The Rule of Thirds. Exposure. White Balance. What do these have in common? They're used widely by photographers who are just trying to get the most creative and best angle to perserve a specific image.

Photographers work in a variety of spaces. Sometimes they travel. Some work in studios. Others work in laboratories. While it's not necessary for photographers to have a postsecondary education, many take classes so they understand the art of photography.

  • Average Salary: $33,968
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Producer

Role:

Producers work for the entertainment industry. They secure resources and coordinate logistical arrangements for the making of a film, television show, or theatre performance. They make sure production expenses do not go over the budget, that deliverables are ready on time, and the finished products meet the expectations of investors.

They are responsible for hiring staff, coordinating creative work, preparing and presenting funding applications, monitoring and approving post-production work, and performing managerial tasks such as scheduling, planning work phases, and taking care of the marketing of the completed product.

If you want to be a producer, you should start with a college education in film or theatre or cultural management. It is not obligatory, though. Being a producer is all about finding creative ways to get something done, and there is never one path that always works. Many actors, writers, or other creative people who are now producers just started working on their own personal projects and discovered the know-how along the way.

  • Average Salary: $72,202
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Freelance Photographer

Role:

Freelance Photographers take photos for different purposes. They discuss image requirements with clients and perform research for the shoot. They also arrange photoshoot backgrounds, take and process images. A freelance photographer works for himself and not for someone else. However, you can sell your pictures to anyone. Due to the nature of the job, you are responsible for building your reputations, marketing your work, and actively seeking clients. Additionally, you will write business plans, create budgets, invest in and maintain technical equipment.

Although no formal training is required, most freelance photographers possess a degree in photography. When sorting for clients, a portfolio of high-quality work is more important than academic credentials. Some learn both the technical and creative aspects of the profession as apprentices for veteran photographers. Freelance photographers must possess self-motivation, networking, creativity, technical, and communication skills. They must also be familiar with relevant software. Their working style is affected by the number and types of projects.

The salary of freelance photographers ranges from $33,842 to $48,123, with an average salary of $42,342.

  • Average Salary: $42,949
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree
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States With The Most Associate Producer Jobs

Mouse over a state to see the number of active associate producer jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where associate producers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average Salary: Job Openings:

Number Of Associate Producer Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California681$62,440
2New York488$65,650
3Texas313$45,188
4Florida278$47,648
5Pennsylvania180$35,177
6Illinois164$34,403
7North Carolina161$40,552
8Virginia152$42,354
9Georgia146$48,675
10Ohio143$45,280
11Michigan130$33,603
12Massachusetts126$42,650
13Washington107$48,480
14Maryland106$46,178
15Colorado104$34,925
16Tennessee102$32,586
17New Jersey99$49,492
18Missouri85$34,378
19Arizona81$40,953
20Wisconsin77$32,762
21Minnesota75$39,014
22Connecticut72$64,124
23South Carolina68$33,285
24Oregon67$52,081
25Utah67$30,392
26Alabama66$36,994
27Louisiana58$38,551
28Iowa55$35,456
29Oklahoma44$59,709
30Arkansas42$38,764
31Indiana40$32,215
32Kentucky37$42,655
33Nebraska34$34,034
34Mississippi33$37,787
35Nevada28$63,115
36West Virginia25$45,710
37Hawaii24$35,139
38Kansas24$37,267
39Vermont22$45,209
40Maine20$33,818
41Rhode Island18$46,285
42New Mexico18$47,245
43South Dakota16$33,497
44Idaho15$36,416
45New Hampshire14$58,399
46North Dakota12$48,784
47Alaska12$44,913
48Delaware11$47,188
49Montana11$33,307
50Wyoming7$37,296

Associate Producer Education

Associate Producer Majors

Communication
22.8 %
Journalism
13.4 %
Photography
12.6 %

Associate Producer Degrees

Bachelors

63.9 %

High School Diploma

14.9 %

Associate

10.8 %

Top Colleges for Associate Producers

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,306

Enrollment

6,975

8. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

10. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

Top Skills For an Associate Producer

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 13.9% of associate producers listed customer service on their resume, but soft skills such as communication skills and creativity are important as well.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Associate Producer Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Associate Producer templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Associate Producer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Associate Producer Resume
Associate Producer Resume
Associate Producer Resume
Associate Producer Resume
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Associate Producer Resume
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Associate Producer Resume
Associate Producer Resume

Associate Producer diversity

Associate Producer Gender Distribution

Male
Male
61%
Female
Female
39%

After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • Among associate producers, 38.8% of them are women, while 61.2% are men.

  • The most common race/ethnicity among associate producers is White, which makes up 65.1% of all associate producers.

  • The most common foreign language among associate producers is Spanish at 51.5%.

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Best States For an Associate Producer

Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as an associate producer. The best states for people in this position are New York, Connecticut, Nevada, and California. Associate producers make the most in New York with an average salary of $65,650. Whereas in Connecticut and Nevada, they would average $64,124 and $63,115, respectively. While associate producers would only make an average of $62,440 in California, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

1. New York

Total Associate Producer Jobs: 488
Highest 10% Earn:
$104,000
Location Quotient:
2.24

$65,650

Avg. Salary

View 488 Associate Producer Jobs In NY

2. Connecticut

Total Associate Producer Jobs: 72
Highest 10% Earn:
$101,000
Location Quotient:
1.28

$64,124

Avg. Salary

View 72 Associate Producer Jobs In CT

3. California

Total Associate Producer Jobs: 681
Highest 10% Earn:
$98,000
Location Quotient:
1.37

$62,440

Avg. Salary

View 681 Associate Producer Jobs In CA
Full List Of Best States For Associate Producers

How Do Associate Producers Rate Their Jobs?

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Top Associate Producer Employers

Most Common Employers For Associate Producer

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1Activision Blizzard$75,026$36.0759
2ESPN$66,569$32.00157
3ViacomCBS$58,657$28.20132
4NBCUniversal$56,791$27.3089
5Fox News$56,394$27.1176
6CNN$52,535$25.26159
7Wegmans Food Markets$35,327$16.9869
8Market Basket$35,237$16.9471
9Hannaford Supermarkets$35,066$16.86143
10ShopRite Supermarkets Inc.$34,436$16.5671
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Associate Producer Videos

Atlas Shrugged 3 Associate Producer Joan Carter on Dagny Taggart
AM Behind the Scenes: Associate Producers
Career Advice on becoming an Associate Producer by Alex J (Full Version)

Becoming an Associate Producer FAQs

How Many Years Of Experience Does An Associate Producer Have?

An associate producer has between one and five years of experience. Since this position can be viewed as an entry-level position, there typically isn't too much experience that is required to begin work in this field. Most associate producers may have had an internship or volunteer work that can satisfy the requirement.

Is Associate Producer An Entry-level Job?

Yes, being an associate producer is an entry-level job. These individuals are often tasked with aiding producers in piecing the film together. They typically have knowledge of editing, video slicing, and other post-production qualities. During the shoot, they may aid the production crew in the direction of the producer.

What Is The Difference Between A Producer And An Associate Producer?

The difference between a producer and an associate producer is that producers are typically a step or two above an associate producer and have more authority in the project's direction. An associate producer is seen as being more an assistant to the producer and aids in a lot of on-set and post-production tasks, such as editing.

Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.

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Updated April 6, 2023