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Video production assistant vs freelance producer

The differences between video production assistants and freelance producers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a video production assistant, becoming a freelance producer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a freelance producer has an average salary of $62,218, which is higher than the $33,779 average annual salary of a video production assistant.

The top three skills for a video production assistant include video production, audio equipment and video content. The most important skills for a freelance producer are music videos, news stories, and video content.

Video production assistant vs freelance producer overview

Video Production AssistantFreelance Producer
Yearly salary$33,779$62,218
Hourly rate$16.24$29.91
Growth rate10%8%
Number of jobs58,4329,703
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 80%
Average age4240
Years of experience212

What does a video production assistant do?

A video production assistant's job is to help the producer in any way possible. They are tasked with setting up meetings and auditions and may even be in charge of interns. They may be responsible for gathering reference materials and clips and determining which issues should be shown to a producer. They may also be in charge of shuffling crews or video recording and other equipment.

What does a freelance producer do?

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.

Video production assistant vs freelance producer salary

Video production assistants and freelance producers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Video Production AssistantFreelance Producer
Average salary$33,779$62,218
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $54,000Between $33,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between video production assistant and freelance producer education

There are a few differences between a video production assistant and a freelance producer in terms of educational background:

Video Production AssistantFreelance Producer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 80%
Most common majorCommunicationPhotography
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Video production assistant vs freelance producer demographics

Here are the differences between video production assistants' and freelance producers' demographics:

Video Production AssistantFreelance Producer
Average age4240
Gender ratioMale, 69.8% Female, 30.2%Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 5.2% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%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 Percentage8%14%

Differences between video production assistant and freelance producer duties and responsibilities

Video production assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage HD camerawork and calculating wireless mic levels.
  • Develop the companies YouTube page to improve the companies social media presents.
  • Advance lighting techniques and how to format videos for private websites and public ones such as YouTube.
  • Create the companies first hunting DVD for retail sales in coordination with the lead video producer and company graphic artist.
  • Assist the video coordinator with off-season opponent scouting, game tape digitizing, logging, DVD production, and duplication.
  • Monitor conference bridges, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and provide complete documentation on conferences.
  • Show more

Freelance producer example responsibilities.

  • Drive engagement by managing the brand's YouTube channel, as well as all other social media outlets.
  • Manage production shoots for image campaigns and monthly communications meetings for CNN newsroom and internal in-house creative services department.
  • Manage creative release process working closely with site merchandising, content engineering, release engineering, QA, buyers and marketing.
  • Manage the QA process including test/debug cycles and platform compliance/compatibility testing.
  • Produce for Chubb s website, YouTube, Facebook and on DVD.
  • Help maintain social media presence on Facebook and Instagram.
  • Show more

Video production assistant vs freelance producer skills

Common video production assistant skills
  • Video Production, 20%
  • Audio Equipment, 6%
  • Video Content, 6%
  • Adobe Premiere Pro, 6%
  • Camera Operation, 5%
  • Video Projects, 3%
Common freelance producer skills
  • Music Videos, 20%
  • News Stories, 6%
  • Video Content, 5%
  • Video Production, 4%
  • Live Events, 4%
  • Photography, 4%

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