Q: Is production assistant a good job?

Yes, being a production assistant is a good job. While no one would say that being a production assistant is a lucrative job, it is a good job for opening the door to an exciting movie career.

Q: What degree do you need to be a production assistant?

You do not need a degree to become a production assistant. While film school is common and even advantageous, it is not specifically required for a job. Film school does provide a background for production assistants in hands-on understanding of the production process.

Q: How much do movie production assistants make?

Movie production assistants make around $13.36 per hour. However, this can range from $7.25 to $26.65 per hour. The money you make will depend on many factors: your level of experience, the size and budget of the production, how frequently you work, and your location. With that said, a production assistant position is usually thought of as an entry-level position in the film industry.

Q: Is it hard to get a production assistant job?

Yes, it is hard to get a production assistant job. Even an entry-level position, finding a production assistant gig is super competitive. To become a production assistant does not usually require educational credentials or prior experience. Rather it's all about networking. Most production assistant positions, which are considered entry-level, are based on who you know.

Question 1

How long does it take to become a Production Assistant?

Accepted Answer

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a production assistant. That is the time it takes to learn specific production assistant skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Question 2

Can anyone be a production assistant?

Accepted Answer

Yes, anyone can be a production assistant given the right motivation. There's no one path towards becoming a production assistant. Most production assistants work their way up in the industry and network whenever possible.

Question 3

Is production assistant a good job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a production assistant is a good job. While no one would say that being a production assistant is a lucrative job, it is a good job for opening the door to an exciting movie career.

Question 4

What degree do you need to be a production assistant?

Accepted Answer

You do not need a degree to become a production assistant. While film school is common and even advantageous, it is not specifically required for a job. Film school does provide a background for production assistants in hands-on understanding of the production process.

Question 5

What is a good starting salary for a Production Assistant?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a production assistant is $22,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a production assistant in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for production assistants is $31,863, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a production assistant can vary by state.

Question 6

How much do movie production assistants make?

Accepted Answer

Movie production assistants make around $13.36 per hour. However, this can range from $7.25 to $26.65 per hour.

The money you make will depend on many factors: your level of experience, the size and budget of the production, how frequently you work, and your location. With that said, a production assistant position is usually thought of as an entry-level position in the film industry.

Question 7

How much do production assistants make a day?

Accepted Answer

A production assistant makes between $100 and $250 a day per 8 to 12 hour day. Most production assistants who work on independent films or union films will be paid based on a day rate. Meaning it doesn't matter how many hours you work that day.

Question 8

How much does a production assistant make annually?

Accepted Answer

A production assistant makes an average of $35,308 annually. A production assistant position is usually thought of as an entry-level position in the film industry. With that said, there are some high-paying positions for production assistant positions based on the company you work for.

Question 9

Can a production assistant make 100k?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot make $100,000 per year as a production assistant. It is highly unlikely to earn over $100k because the average annual salary for a production assistant is $31,863. Even production assistants in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $44,000 per year.

Question 10

Is it hard to get a production assistant job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is hard to get a production assistant job. Even an entry-level position, finding a production assistant gig is super competitive.

To become a production assistant does not usually require educational credentials or prior experience. Rather it's all about networking. Most production assistant positions, which are considered entry-level, are based on who you know.

Question 11

What is the career path for a production assistant?

Accepted Answer

There is no one career path for a production assistant. If you prove yourself worthy, you'll be hired again and again, land more and more projects, and have opportunities to explore other roles on set.

Question 12

What skills do you need to be a production assistant?

Accepted Answer

The skills needed to be a production assistant are varied, but its theme includes personality, motivation, and organization/time management capabilities.

A majority of the day is spent doing odd, in-between jobs on and around the set, working within various departments, and acting as a messenger for others, so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Question 13

What percentage of Production Assistants are female?

Accepted Answer

47.4% of production assistants are female in the United States. This is 5.4 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female production assistants has increased by 1.4 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 46,709 female production assistants in the U.S. and 51,835 male production assistants in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 98,544 people with the specific job title of production assistant and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 14

How do you list production experience on a resume?

Accepted Answer

You list production experience on a resume by touching on it in the profile summary and experience sections and discussing your skills and achievements.

The key to putting production experience on a resume is to focus on a few core skills and achievements related to the successful operation, maintenance of equipment, and inventory distribution in a factory or warehouse.

Question 15

What are the duties of a production assistant?

Accepted Answer

The duties of a production assistant include helping the production team keep the production area clean, preparing machinery and equipment, and working the production line strictly following health and safety guidelines.

Question 16

What should a production assistant include on a resume?

Accepted Answer

A production assistant should include highlights of their technical skills and experience related to the successful production and assembly of products in factories on a resume.

The entire resume (from the profile summary to work experience to skills section) should show the hiring manager why they would make an excellent addition to the production team.

Question 17

How to get a job as a production assistant

Accepted Answer

You need to be centrally located, develop good organizational skills, routinely search job boards, have excellent networking skills, and do an internship(s) whenever possible in order to get a job as a production assistant.

Question 18

What is a Universal Product Code?

Accepted Answer

A Universal Product Code (UPC) refers to a specific barcode that is utilized to identify products sold in a retail setting. The Universal Product Code has a standardized system in place, and this consists of 12 unique digits that are represented as a group of black vertical lines with a variety of thicknesses and spaces between each of them.

Question 19

What is captive product pricing?

Accepted Answer

Captive product pricing refers to a specific pricing method that consists of setting a low price for a source product, and then pricing a product or service that is complementary to the source product at a higher price point to cover the losses of the initial source product's low pricing.

Frequently asked questions about production assistants

Questions about becoming a production assistant