35 Careers in Film and TV That Can Inspire You

There are many available careers in television and cinema. From the creative positions to the set builders or the marketing specialists who sell the movie, there are many types of jobs to choose from. In this article, we lists jobs in the TV and film industry to help you decide which one suits you best.

35 film and television careers

Here is a list of film and television jobs and their salaries:

1. Actor

National average salary: $18,927 per year

Primary duties: An Actor is a professional who plays a character in a film and memorizes dialogues written by the screenwriter. Actors research and develop the character. They take part in promotional events and audition for their next job.

2. Hairstylist

National average salary: $21,135 per year

Primary duties: Hairstylists create effects through the actors' hair to ensure they represent their characters properly. They align with the time period, the weather taking place in the scene and the character's personality.

3. Extra (background actor)

National average salary: $21,778 per year

Primary duties: An extra is an actor or actress who stays in a movie scene's background. They help make the scene more realistic by making the viewer believe real people are around the main character.

4. Floor runner

National average salary: $25,872 per year

Primary duties: Floor runners run errands, drive, transfer messages, provide drinks and food. They often transport the crew and cast from unit base to set.

5. Cashier

National average salary: $27,341 per year

Primary duties: Cashiers help assistant accountants and production accountants keep accurate records of spending on a film or TV drama. They do petty cash reconciliations.

6. Sound mixer

National average salary: $32,157 per year

Primary duties: Sound mixers manage the sound recorded during the movie. It can be dialogues, sound effects or atmosphere.

7. Production assistant

National average salary: $32,814 per year

Primary duties: A production assistant assists the producer or director. Production assistants run errands, answer phones, prepare the set, assist with on-set catering and operate copiers and faxes.

8. Camera operator

National average salary: $34,097 per year

Primary duties: Camera operators are responsible for capturing images for motion pictures or television. They achieve visual effects by using different lights, staging and principles like filtering and focusing. They collaborate with other film professionals to capture the ideas and vision of the project's director.

9. Makeup artist

National average salary: $35,462 per year

Primary duties: Make-up artists apply make-up to the actor. They make sure the actors' looks correspond to the movie's requirements. They sometimes need to use prosthetics, latex or other special effects.

10. Grip crew member

National average salary: $36,176 per year

Primary duties: A grip crew member is responsible for rigging (the equipment that lifts other equipment). They set up camera rigs to stabilize camera movement or lighting rigs to create special effects.

A key grip decides which camera set-ups and lighting equipment the film production needs in collaboration with the director of photography. They hire their grip crew for the production.

11. Set decorator

National average salary: $37,372 per year

Primary duties: Set decorators create the background that adds visual context and mood to the movie. They read the script and decide what is necessary, then coordinate to buy, rent or hire people to build it.

12. Supervising sound editors

National average salary: $39,458 per year

Primary duties: Supervising sound editors manage the sound team, and oversee dialogues, sound effects or background sound.

13. Video editor

National average salary: $43,287 per year

Primary duties: The editor takes the images shot on set and assembles them in the story order. They collaborate with the director to make decisions and submit their work to producers for approval.

14. Producer

National average salary: $45,791 per year

Primary duties: A producer is responsible for the business side of filmmaking. Producers arrange for financing, hire the crew and oversee script re-writes. They also manage the schedules, coordinate locations, and solve problems on the set.

15. Marketing assistant

National average salary: $46,168 per year

Primary duties: Marketing assistants help marketing managers to make a successful campaign. They might schedule social media messages or order catering for meetings.

16. Director of photography or Cinematographer

National average salary: $47,899 per year

Primary duties: A cinematographer, also called director of photography (DP), is responsible for the visual aesthetic of a movie. Cinematographers manage the camera and light crews working on a television or movie production.

17. Location manager

National average salary: $51,589 per year

Primary duties: Location managers find the physical place in which the movie story happens. They arrange visits and inquire about the costs. Once they get approval from the director, they negotiate and sign contracts.

18. Script reader

National average salary: $51,933 per year

Primary duties: A script reader is a professional who reads submitted scripts and conducts a short analysis to determine if the material is worth considering for production. Then they make recommendations to the company they work for.

19. Lighting director

National average salary: $51,951 per year

Primary duties: A lighting director is a lighting technician responsible for the design and set-up of lighting for visual productions. They create plans and budgets. They work with other production members to carry out the vision of the director.

20. Publicist

National average salary: $53,056 per year

Primary duties: Publicists are responsible for getting media coverage of the film. They contact journalists, critics, organize viewings and create press packs with the film's synopsis and notes.

21. Film production accountant

National average salary: $54,689 per year

Primary duties: Production accountants calculate finances, manage the production cost, cash flow and the completion guaranty (an insurance policy that ensures the timely and on budget film delivery.)

22. Music composer

National average salary: $55,280 per year

Primary duties: Music composers create the soundtrack of a movie.

They start working while the editor puts scenes together. They spot where music is necessary and find a style that suits the story.

23. Assistant director

National average salary: $55,512 per year

Primary duties: The assistant director helps the director by managing the schedule on set and coordinating the different departments involved in the movie shooting.

24. Production buyer

National average salary: $59,194 per year

Primary duties: Production buyers buy or rent properties needed on the set. They coordinate with the prop master and keep track of renting dates to keep the cost down.

25. Casting assistant

National average salary: $59,215 per year

Primary duties: A casting assistant assists the casting director. They help to perform screen tests and operate the camera. They edit and upload footage from casting sessions so the producer and director can watch. They also assist with office duties.

26. Screenwriter

National average salary: $59,939 per year

Primary duties: A screenwriter is a professional who writes screenplays for films, including dialogues and scenes. They create characters, craft a story, and then make multiple revisions until it is ready for the screen.

27. Film programmer

National average salary: $77,089 per year

Primary duties: Film programmers are responsible for selecting the films to be shown in festivals, cinemas, and TV.

28. Sales agent

National average salary: $63,749 per year

Primary duties: Sales agents or sales companies sell the movie or TV drama rights to distributors, who release it on various platforms. Sales agents work for the producer.

29. Archivist

National average salary: $65,229 per year

Primary duties: The archivist is responsible for cataloging films so that production companies can find them later. They also restore old films by scanning and digitize them.

30. Costume designer

National average salary: $68,346 yearly

Primary duties: A costume designer has the responsibility to design, create the costumes for the cast. They recruit a team and organize purchases, costume creation and fittings.

31. Casting director

National average salary: $70 481 yearly

Primary duties: Casting directors find talents for each part while respecting the budget. They start by reading the script to understand the different characters. Then they organize castings or contact lead actors' agents to verify their availability and interest.

32. Marketing manager

National average salary: $70,607 yearly

Primary duties: Marketing managers create and oversee the promotion campaign to convince the audience they must see the movie.

33. Construction manager

National average salary: $85,609 yearly

Primary duties: Construction managers interpret the production designer's drawings and build the set. They collect the materials and hire the construction staff. Post-production, they dismantle everything.

34. Finance controller

National average salary: $87,819 yearly

Primary duties: Finance controllers supervise the financial and legal management team that ensures the film stays within the budget.

35. Director

National average salary: $99,656 yearly

Primary duties: A director is responsible for every movie's creative aspect from its development to post-production. They tell the story through onscreen visuals and the Actors' performances.