Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between production assistants and associate producers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an associate producer has an average salary of $47,279, which is higher than the $33,405 average annual salary of a production assistant.
The top three skills for a production assistant include video production, teleprompter and audio board. The most important skills for an associate producer are customer service, video content, and sales floor.
| Production Assistant | Associate Producer | |
| Yearly salary | $33,405 | $47,279 |
| Hourly rate | $16.06 | $22.73 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 51,905 | 9,295 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
Production assistants are employees in show business, working behind the scenes. They work in film, television, or even theatre sets primarily to provide support. They usually work directly under directors or producers. Production assistants are responsible for ensuring that the day will run smoothly, be it for a television or film shoot or a performance at the theatre. They should be familiar with all the scenes, ensure that the cast and crew are ready, and cue them when it is their time to go on. They should also be able to anticipate needs that may arise and should be able to quickly mitigate any challenges. Production assistants should be flexible and have quick decision-making skills.
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.
Production assistants and associate producers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Production Assistant | Associate Producer | |
| Average salary | $33,405 | $47,279 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $44,000 | Between $31,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bristol, CT | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New York |
| Best paying company | National Football League | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Media |
There are a few differences between a production assistant and an associate producer in terms of educational background:
| Production Assistant | Associate Producer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | - | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between production assistants' and associate producers' demographics:
| Production Assistant | Associate Producer | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6% | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 6.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 14% |