Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between production assistants and production crews can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a production assistant has an average salary of $33,405, which is higher than the $31,793 average annual salary of a production crew.
The top three skills for a production assistant include video production, teleprompter and audio board. The most important skills for a production crew are harvest, cleanliness, and power steering.
| Production Assistant | Production Crew | |
| Yearly salary | $33,405 | $31,793 |
| Hourly rate | $16.06 | $15.29 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 51,905 | 114,852 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 38 | 23 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Production crew members are responsible for maintaining the setup, dismantling, maintenance, and removal of music and theater production equipment for stage work. They are hired in production companies, event venues, theater groups, and touring bands. Their duties include implementing stage design as well as selecting and positioning lighting and sound equipment. Also, they transport, maintain, and mend production equipment. Additionally, they organize and attach cables to the electrical supply utilizing portable junction boxes.
Production assistants and production crews have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Production Assistant | Production Crew | |
| Average salary | $33,405 | $31,793 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $44,000 | Between $25,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bristol, CT | Clearfield, UT |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | National Football League | Schnitzer Steel |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a production assistant and a production crew in terms of educational background:
| Production Assistant | Production Crew | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Communication | Communication |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between production assistants' and production crews' demographics:
| Production Assistant | Production Crew | |
| Average age | 38 | 23 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6% | Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6% |
| 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, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |