The Hollywood Reporter estimates that A-list movie stars routinely make $15 million to $20 million for top roles in big-budget films. Before they break into directing, it’s important for directors to have several years of experience working in the industry in related roles such as screenwriters, sound and video editors, or actors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Producers and Directors, Directors Guild of America: First-Time TV Directors, The Hollywood Reporter: Hollywood's Salary Report 2017: Movie Stars to Makeup Artists to Boom Operators: Director, Vanity Fair: The Secrets of Hollywood's Highest Paid Directors, Princeton Review: A Day in the Life of a Film Director, The Richest: Hollywood's Highest Paid Movie Directors, Director's Guild of America: Low Budget Agreements, Ridley Scott for "Alien: Covenant" – $10 to $12 million, Justin Lin for "Hot Wheels" – $11 to $12 million, Patty Jenkins for the first "Wonder Woman" – $1 million; for the sequel – $8 to $9 million, Jordan Vogt-Roberts for "Kong: Skull Island" – $750,000, $11 M+ budget – $19,622+ per week for 10 weeks, $11 M+ budget, shorts, documentaries – $14,014+ per week for one week and one day, $8.5 M+ budget – $17,660+ per week for 13 weeks, $3.75 M+ budget – $14,717+ per week for 13 weeks, $2.6 M+ budget – $75,000 total for 13 weeks of work, Less than $2.6 M budget – negotiated between employer and director. All Right Reserved. According to Payscale, a film director earns an average of £195 to £40,625 on profit-sharing ventures related to his films. Scheduling rehearsals is part of the director’s responsibility. Filter by location to see Film Production salaries in your area. We’ve combined THR‘s data with other research on the subject—including some numbers from salary research site Payscale.com, and a Vanity Fair video showing how much each person makes in a theoretical $200 million budget film—to get a good sense of how much different people make working on a movie. Geographical location influences a film director's average salary. How much does a Film Producer make? This means you'll usually be responsible for negotiating the pay you receive for each project. The median annual film director salary for all industries in May 2017 was $71,620. As a result, national average salaries for film directors reflect all types of projects. The median film director salary for …  Although key grips have an average salary of $75,272, the salary ranges from $37,970 to nearly $140,000. Meanwhile, the director often consults with set designers, cinematographers and costume designers to make sure the set and costumes look as the director envisioned them. Although the producer is in charge of keeping the production on budget while the director handles the creative aspects of the film, in reality, the director must also be mindful of the budget and the importance of keeping the action moving. If you don't, we will not be compensated. But a makeup artist working on a big-budget movie will make $124,000, or perhaps more. This can sometimes make the average pay for producers misleading. Like the distribution of wealth and power all over America, there are a few producers who control the majority of the power in Hollywood. Some are involved in advertising projects and documentaries. He or she chooses which microphones should be used and where to place them to capture the best sound.Â, The average salary for a sound mixer is $59,413, with an average hourly rate of $33.30.  In 2017, directors made an average salary of $71,620, according to the BLS. If you choose to interact with the content on our site, we will likely receive compensation. The job of a grip is to build and oversee all the equipment needed to support cameras and lighting, including dollies, tripods, cranes, and such. Film Producer: Education Requirements, Salary and Job Duties Learn about the education and preparation needed to become a film producer. As an established producer, you can potentially earn large paychecks, but realistically, your salary is more likely to fluctuate with each project. As a movie producer, you'll hold a lot of responsibility, which can translate to a high-paying salary. Similar to a chef, the food stylist must, Although this task might seem minimal, food stylists make an average salary of $63,187, according to PayScale.Â. A film director's average salary varies by location, company and industry. However, directing actors is only one part of a film director’s role. Rehearsals take place for many weeks, with the director advising actors on where to stand, how to deliver lines, and the mindset or emotions of their characters. But depending on the film, a sound mixer can make as high as $78 per hour, according to PayScale.Â, Not Everyone Can Do Anything: 15 Celebrities Who Tried and Failed to Start New Careers, If you’re wondering why a movie sometimes gets filmed in your hometown, that was the decision of the film’s location scout. the boom operator—makes about $37,000 for working on low-budget films, $72,000 for typical studio films, and up to $120,625 for big-budget movies, according to Hollywood Reporter estimates. An average film director salary includes directors of big-budget Hollywood films and first-time directors shooting low-budget indies in Ohio. Below are the most recent producer salary reports. But for gaffers in New York, the average salary for a gaffer drops to $59,069.Â, From Key Grip to Location Scout — Hollywood Movie Crew Salaries Revealed. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). To find out more about our editorial process and how we make money, click here. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. As one of the highest-paying positions on a film, art directors work with the production designer to help create the film’s distinct look. What Barber Schools Are Located in the San Diego Area? Although Tom Cruise is notorious for performing his own stunts, most actors need a body double when a scene requires a high level of danger or nudity. Although they might take a backseat to the spotlight, body doubles can earn a pretty paycheck. Opinions are our own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. 5 Ways to Successfully Climb the Career Ladder, Get weekly email updates, including expert advice to help you Live Richerâ¢, 25 Ways To Double Your Paycheck in 1 Month, Corn Flakes, Mountain Dew and 9 Other Beloved Brands With a Twisted History, 25 Ways To Score a Good Deal on a Car Out of State, Taco Bell’s Risky Call To Eliminate Potatoes and Add Grilled Cheese Burrito Pays Off, 16 Best Career Decisions To Make When the Stock Market Is Seesawing. A film director's salary is influenced by profit-sharing opportunities available to him. Screenwriter salary stories.  But the Hollywood Reporter estimates you can make $124,000 on a big budget film.Â, The sound mixer is essentially responsible for how the movie sounds during production. A camera operator’s median earnings in the TV or film business are just under $50,000 a year. For example, Tanaoi Reed, the cousin and body double for actor,  has earned $1 million as a stuntman. Â. As the name implies, the location scout is in charge of locking down a perfect location for where to shoot that is in line with the director’s vision. So while it’s all well and good to quote average salaries, it’s helpful to know the outer limits of the range, too. Actual salaries are somewhat secretive, but some sample reported salaries are: Studios have changed the way they pay directors in recent years. How Do You Stack Up to the Average Income in Your State? The middle half of all these workers earning wages between $34,450 and $163,540 annually. Those working in the states of Florida, Texas, and Georgia made $70,630, $69,280, and $84,570 at that time, respectively. Whatever their salaries, directors work hard for the money. The gaffer generally works with the key grip and the cinematographer to execute the film’s lighting aesthetic. A person with 10-20 years of experience could expect to earn about $81,671 per year. In many professions, the public has little impact on a professional's salary. For example, British director and Academy-Award nominee Christopher Nolan, received a whopping $20 million paycheck to direct the war drama “Dunkirk.”Â. For example, Tanaoi Reed, the cousin and body double for actor Dwayne Johnson for more than 15 years, has earned $1 million as a stuntman. Â, Prop makers might not have the most prestigious role on a movie set, but their job is crucial to the look and feel of a movie. Here’s Exactly What to Write to Get Top Dollar, How To Follow Up After an Interview (With Templates! To explain what a director does, it helps to differentiate the roles of producer vs. director. Similar to a chef, the food stylist must have deep knowledge of cooking and recipes and know how to present food that looks good and that will pop on camera. Although not all jobs are equal and not all movie salaries are the same, many roles on a movie set can offer up a decent living financially. Find out which movie crew salaries offer the most money with this look into the truth about pay in the entertainment industry. But for gaffers in New York, the average salary for a gaffer drops to $59,069.Â, Want One of These Gigs?  The annual mean salary for a motion picture makeup artist is $75,160, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For gaffers working near Hollywood, the average salary is high at $123,052, with the bottom 10 percent earning $99,465. Sometimes they also earn a percentage of ticket sales. Which California Schools Offer Teaching Degrees in Elementary Education? This involves visiting and researching different venues and taking pictures for the director and producers to review.Â,  The average salary for a location scout is $75,441, with the top 25 percent earning more earning around $103,000, according to Simply Hired.Â, In one of the more niche roles on a movie set, the food stylist is responsible for preparing and arranging the food in a way that is enticing in the scene. Our content is free because our partners pay us a referral fee if you click on links or call any of the phone numbers on our site. The latest Writers Guild agreement requires that film screenwriters be paid at least $72,600 for an original script, and $63,500 for an adaptation, but Hollywood Reporter says that top talent such as Aaron Sorkin routinely pull in $3 to $5 million per script. For a personal care makeup artist, the average yearly salary hovers around $34,000, but that more than doubles for a film makeup artist. The annual mean salary for a motion picture makeup artist is $75,160, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the Hollywood Reporter estimates you can make $124,000 on a big budget film.Â, The sound mixer is essentially responsible for how the movie sounds during production. These offers do not represent all available deposit, investment, loan or credit products. There's still a long way to go until the economy is recovered. Rates are based on the film's budget and, except where noted otherwise, include a guaranteed minimum number of weeks of work: Employment of directors is expected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is faster than the average for all jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, film directors in California earn an annual mean wage of £78,344. He or she is responsible for making sure all the elements of a movie — sound, lighting, scenery, writing and more — come together. In 2017, directors made an average salary of $71,620, according to the BLS. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. But if you direct a big-time hit, your earnings can soar. They usually work together with the production designer and are responsible for making all the intricate or specialized items you see during a scene, such as jewelry or weapons. In addition, prop makers perform research to make sure all props are authentic-looking and historically accurate. The average base salary for a prop maker is $44,660, with an average hourly rate of $21 per hour, according to Salaryexpert.com.Â, Some Very Famous Props: The Most Valuable Movie Memorabilia Ever Sold, Makeup artists have the high-pressure job of creating a character’s look and applying makeup to an actor for each scene.