Film Career · Camera And Electrical
First Assistant Camera
Camera And Electrical · IATSE Local 600 and craft locals
- Union
- IATSE Local 600 and craft locals
- Day rate
- ~$50K–$200K+/yr
- Experience
- 5–12 yrs
What does a First Assistant Camera do?
A first assistant camera holds one of the senior positions in the camera and electrical department, combining craft mastery with responsibility for outcomes.
On union productions the position falls under IATSE Local 600 and craft locals, which sets the rates, hours, and conditions the role works within. The role is engaged show by show, and careers in camera and electrical are built on the department heads and crews who hire the same trusted people back.
What does a First Assistant Camera make?
- Camera, grip, and electric crews are paid by the day: entry chairs roughly $350-$950, mid-craft operators and technicians $500-$1,500, and department heads well above.
- Steady union work is roughly $50K-$200K+ a year, and roles that own gear add rental income.
Film work is gig based, so crew are paid a day or weekly rate rather than a salary. These are realistic 2024-2025 ranges grounded in union rate cards and industry data; actual pay swings with budget tier, market, overtime, and reputation.
Sources & how we estimate pay
Union scale is the floor; the ranges above also reflect market day rates above scale. They are grounded in the following 2024–2025 sources:
Union rate cards & wage schedules
Official guild scale — the floor each craft is paid from.
- IATSE — 2024 Basic Agreement wage scales (PDF) ↗
- IATSE Local 600 (International Cinematographers Guild) — camera rate cards ↗
- DGA — minimum salary rate cards (director, unit production manager, assistant directors) ↗
- WGA — schedule of minimums (writers) ↗
- SAG-AFTRA — theatrical & background rate sheets (cast, stunts, background) ↗
- Teamsters Local 399 — basic feature wage rates, 2024–27 (transportation, locations, wranglers) (PDF) ↗
Government wage data
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the closest federal occupation.
You’ll like and be good at this job if:
Hard skills
- You are handy and technical with camera, lighting, and grip gear
Soft skills
- You are trusted with the work that has the least room for error
- You combine craft mastery with responsibility for the outcome
The ladder
Related chairs in this craft family, ordered from entry toward leadership:
- 1Assistant Camera
- 2Second Assistant Camera
- 3First Assistant Camera (this role)
Career progression
Within this craft family the recognized progression runs from assistant camera toward first assistant camera, with each step earned through set time and the trust of the chairs above. Where this role sits on that ladder is less important than how the camera and electrical department works: people move up when the department already believes they can do the next job.
A typical path, from entry to the top of the craft. Times are rough and vary by market, luck, and how steadily the work comes.
~$50K–$200K+/yr
~$50K–$200K+/yr
- First Assistant Camerayou are here
~$50K–$200K+/yr
How do you become a First Assistant Camera?
The path here is internal: the camera and electrical department promotes this position from within, based on a track record built in its junior chairs. Start at the department's entry level and let the work argue for you.
On covered productions, rates, hours, and conditions for the role are set by IATSE Local 600 and craft locals contracts.
Covered by a union? The joining a film union guide explains how each one takes members.