Question 1

How much does a Director of Photography cost per day?

Accepted Answer

Based on our data from thousands of real assignments, a Director of Photography (DP) typically costs between $500 and $2,500 per day depending on experience, market, and project complexity. The median day rate is around $800-$1,200.

Question 2

What is a fair day rate for an audio technician?

Accepted Answer

Audio technicians typically charge between $400 and $1,500 per day. The median rate from our dataset is around $600-$900 per day. Rates vary by city and whether the tech provides their own equipment kit.

Question 3

Do day rates vary by city?

Accepted Answer

Yes, significantly. Major markets like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago command higher rates (often 20-40% above the national median) due to higher cost of living and stronger demand. Smaller markets may have lower rates but also less competition for bookings.

Question 4

What does a day rate typically include?

Accepted Answer

A standard day rate in video production covers a 10-hour work day. It includes the crew member's labor and basic kit (camera, audio, or lighting depending on the role). Equipment rentals, travel expenses, and overtime are usually billed separately.

Question 5

How often are these rates updated?

Accepted Answer

Our rate data is computed from real billing records across 36,000+ crew assignments and is refreshed daily. The data reflects actual paid rates, not estimates or surveys, making it the most accurate rate guide in the industry.

Role	Low (25th)	Median	High (75th)	Sample Size
CAMERA OPERATOR	$1,470	$1,933	$2,851	4,317
AUDIO OPERATOR	$650	$950	$1,253	2,893
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (DP)	$1,614	$2,095	$2,997	2,390
CREW MEMBER	$400	$800	$1,709	1,392
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT	$250	$363	$697	1,257
STILL PHOTOGRAPHER	$800	$1,100	$1,600	723
HAIR AND MAKEUP	$625	$700	$950	485
CREW	$1,800	$2,684	$4,190	482
GEAR RENTAL	$400	$400	$400	372
GAFFER	$848	$1,465	$2,563	360
ASSISTANT CAMERA (AC)	$527	$749	$1,116	214
UTILITY	$312	$500	$729	196
GRIP	$600	$720	$1,188	161
TELEPROMPTER OPERATOR	$800	$864	$1,150	156
PRODUCER	$600	$700	$948	142
CAMERA (DP)	$1,525	$1,850	$2,640	129
EDITOR	$979	$1,613	$3,300	114
FULL DAY TWO MAN VIDEO CAMERA CREW	$2,538	$3,110	$4,244	100
FULL DAY ONE MAN VIDEO CAMERA CREW	$1,794	$2,300	$3,344	86
DATA WRANGLER (DIT)	$600	$789	$1,445	81
MAKEUP ARTIST	$500	$625	$754	69
MEDIA MANAGER	$525	$838	$1,422	56
DRONE OPERATOR	$989	$1,675	$2,213	44
STAGEHAND	$463	$600	$1,038	42
DIRECTOR	$1,200	$1,750	$2,553	40
AUDIO (SOUND)	$950	$1,000	$1,163	31
HAIR	$350	$408	$600	22
1ST ASSISTANT CAMERA	$704	$992	$1,450	22
TALENT	$175	$181	$475	22
AUDIO OPERATOR (A2)	$572	$800	$880	20
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (PA)	$57	$250	$468	19
LOCATION SCOUT	$561	$1,000	$1,824	17
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: PRODUCTION SERVICES	$353	$378	$1,058	17
CAMERA UTILITY	$600	$883	$929	16
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR	$413	$804	$1,226	14
PRODUCTION COMPANY	$4,769	$6,500	$12,500	13
EDITING	$675	$1,575	$2,000	13
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR	$1,361	$1,870	$2,359	12
PHOTGRAPHY	$750	$875	$1,500	10
FIELD PRODUCER	$606	$664	$801	10
PRODUCTION MANAGER	$550	$786	$1,000	10
WARDROBE	$1,075	$1,734	$1,950	8
EDITING: EDITOR	$725	$900	$1,275	8
TALENT WRANGLER	$750	$750	$750	8
STEADICAM OPERATOR	$2,370	$4,272	$5,637	7
FOOD STYLIST	$1,147	$1,550	$2,500	7
ASSISTANT CAMERA	$526	$650	$1,007	7
WARDROBE: STYLIST	$1,308	$1,500	$1,750	7
LOCATION MANAGER	$700	$1,483	$1,764	6
SET DRESSER	$377	$979	$2,006	6
HALF DAY TWO MAN VIDEO CAMERA CREW	$2,325	$2,746	$2,775	5
SET MEDIC: SET MEDIC	$1,020	$1,701	$2,050	5
KEY GRIP	$734	$750	$1,950	5
REHEARSAL STAND-IN	$514	$514	$531	5

Video Production Day Rates Guide

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