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How to hire a studio assistant

Studio assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring studio assistants in the United States:

  • There are a total of 3,692 studio assistants in the US, and there are currently 26,770 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a studio assistant is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per studio assistant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for studio assistants, with 7 job openings.

How to hire a studio assistant, step by step

To hire a studio assistant, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a studio assistant:

Here's a step-by-step studio assistant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a studio assistant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new studio assistant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a studio assistant do?

Studio assistants are junior-level professionals who work in studios to provide assistance functions to studio staff and designers. These assistants must maintain and manage studio equipment or instruments while inspecting them to ensure quality assurance. They organize photoshoots by assisting senior photographers and studio managers to set up equipment and styling of models. In an audio recording, these assistants are required to maintain and calibrate audio equipment such as speakers, mixers, and specialized audio hardware. Studio assistants must also coordinate with graphic designers to assist company owners with graphic design and photography projects.

Learn more about the specifics of what a studio assistant does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The studio assistant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A studio assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, studio assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list presents studio assistant salaries for various positions.

    Type of Studio AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Studio AssistantSecretaries and administrative assistants perform clerical and administrative duties. They organize files, prepare documents, schedule appointments, and support other staff.$9-23
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Adobe Photoshop
    • Product Photography
    • Photo Shoots
    • Studio Equipment
    • Sculpture
    • Audio Equipment
    • Photo Studio
    • Graphic Design
    • Control Room
    • Front Desk
    • Adobe Illustrator
    • Studio Operations
    • Scheduling Appointments
    • Mac
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Instruct classes, run summer camps, manage studio, run FaceBook page, order supplies, and correspondence
    • Maintain social media websites: Facebook.
    • Accompany management to NYC for events.
    • Web design, HTML integration, graphics creation
    • Assign and distributes microphones and IFB's for on-air talent.
    • Process client purchase orders and create client invoices using QuickBooks.
    More studio assistant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your studio assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A studio assistant salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, studio assistants' average salary in oklahoma is 54% less than in hawaii.
    • Seniority. Entry-level studio assistants earn 58% less than senior-level studio assistants.
    • Certifications. A studio assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a studio assistant's salary.

    Average studio assistant salary

    $15.24hourly

    $31,701 yearly

    Entry-level studio assistant salary
    $20,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average studio assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$36,427$18
    2California$34,527$17
    3Washington$32,487$16
    4Wisconsin$31,999$15
    5Arizona$30,737$15
    6Illinois$30,377$15
    7Virginia$30,181$15
    8Colorado$29,089$14
    9Iowa$28,376$14
    10Kansas$28,148$14
    11Pennsylvania$28,015$13

    Average studio assistant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1School of Visual Concepts$145,299$69.86
    2Skidmore College$66,274$31.86
    3Saint Xavier University$52,717$25.341
    4Covenant College$41,222$19.82
    5The University of Kansas Health System$36,482$17.543
    6The Walt Disney Company$36,203$17.413
    7Amazon$35,881$17.2563
    8Middle East Broadcasting Network$33,843$16.27
    9University of Pennsylvania$33,650$16.184
    10Local Projects$33,517$16.11
    11Chapman University$32,623$15.6824
    12Rue Gilt Groupe$32,594$15.67
    13Nordstrom$32,409$15.586
    14Steve Madden$31,858$15.32
    15Amer Sports$31,581$15.18
    16Rooms To Go$30,267$14.55
    17ConAm Management$29,413$14.1414
    18Metropolitan State University of Denver$27,385$13.172
    19VF$25,873$12.44
    20Arhaus$25,849$12.432
  4. Writing a studio assistant job description

    A studio assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a studio assistant job description:

    Studio assistant job description example

    RESPONSIBILITIES:
    • Maintain up-to-date product and systems knowledge
    • Review all orders for complete accuracy and 100% compliance with all standards
    • Communicate effectively and consistently with clients and team members
    • Maintain all tagging standards and assist with tagging procedures
    • Assist with all aspects of merchandise transfers
    • Assist in maintaining accurate inventory and with preparing for & completing physical inventories
    • Participate in weekly team meeting
    • Clients in-home design scheduling
    REQUIREMENTS:
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
    • Detail oriented with strong organizational and time management skills
    • Ability to take direction and prioritize tasks
    • Works well independently and collaboratively
    • Excels at delivering high-quality client relations
    • High-level product and systems knowledge
    • Professional appearance and demeanor

    EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

    • Exceptional advancement opportunities
    • Competitive earnings, bonus opportunities, and generous employee discount
    • Medical, dental, and life insurance benefits (offerings differ between full-time and part-time status)
    • Flex spending plan
    • 401K retirement program and 529 college savings plan
    • Paid vacations and holidays (Full-time employees only)

    Arhaus is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind, Arhaus is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Arhaus are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Arhaus will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Arhaus encourages applicants of all ages.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right studio assistant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with studio assistants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit studio assistants who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your studio assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit studio assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit studio assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new studio assistant

    Once you've decided on a perfect studio assistant candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new studio assistant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a studio assistant?

Hiring a studio assistant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting studio assistants involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of studio assistant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $31,701 per year for a studio assistant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for studio assistants in the US typically range between $9 and $23 an hour.

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