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The differences between associate producers and freelance producers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an associate producer and a freelance producer. Additionally, a freelance producer has an average salary of $62,218, which is higher than the $47,279 average annual salary of an associate producer.
The top three skills for an associate producer include customer service, video content and sales floor. The most important skills for a freelance producer are music videos, news stories, and video content.
| Associate Producer | Freelance Producer | |
| Yearly salary | $47,279 | $62,218 |
| Hourly rate | $22.73 | $29.91 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 9,295 | 9,703 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An associate producer is an entry-level one position in the television and film industry who assists senior producers in putting a TV program or film together. Associate producers are required to write, edit, and organize scripts and run a teleprompter in newscasts. Most of the assistant producers are required to obtain a bachelor's degree and become editors, writers, or actors to gain experience in television and film. Associate producers are also often assigned to tasks with operational duties such as generating financial reports or status updates.
The responsibilities of a freelance producer are so broad that they can be tricky to define. Broadly, a freelance producer is responsible for finding, launching, and completing a project. They primarily handle logistics pertaining to the creation of various pieces of content. This content may include television shows, advertisements, or audio/video presentations. They also manage finances, keep the production within the allocated budget, and hire all key staff, crew members, and post-production teams. They may also have to scout for shoot locations.
Associate producers and freelance producers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Producer | Freelance Producer | |
| Average salary | $47,279 | $62,218 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $70,000 | Between $33,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Apple | - |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between an associate producer and a freelance producer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Producer | Freelance Producer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Communication | Photography |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between associate producers' and freelance producers' demographics:
| Associate Producer | Freelance Producer | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 14% |