Film Career · Cinematographer
Second Cinematographer
Cinematographer · IATSE Local 600, International Cinematographers Guild
- Union
- IATSE Local 600
- Day rate
- ~$650/day
- Experience
- 1–4 yrs
What does a Second Cinematographer do?
A second cinematographer is the supporting chair in the cinematographer department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on.
On union productions the position falls under IATSE Local 600, International Cinematographers Guild, which sets the rates, hours, and conditions the role works within. Like every cinematographer role, the job is hired production by production, and repeat work comes from department heads who trust the name on the call sheet.
What does a Second Cinematographer make?
- This is an entry or assistant chair, toward the lower end of its department's range.
- Cinematography pay is negotiated, not fixed by scale: roughly $650 a day on indies to $5,000+ on features, with A-list DPs far above.
- Roughly $60K-$400K+ a year.
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 know light, lens, and camera movement
Soft skills
- You anticipate what the crew needs and stay a step ahead
- You have the energy for long days and a good attitude under pressure
The ladder
Related chairs in this craft family, ordered from entry toward leadership:
- 1Second Cinematographer (this role)
- 2Principal Cinematographer
Career progression
Within this craft family the recognized progression runs from second cinematographer toward principal cinematographer, 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 cinematographer 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.
- Second Cinematographeryou are here
~$60K–$400K+/yr
~$60K–$400K+/yr
How do you become a Second Cinematographer?
Entry runs through availability and attitude: departments fill this position from crew lists, referrals, and people already on set who asked for the chance. Day-playing on smaller productions is the fastest way to be seen doing the work.
On covered productions, rates, hours, and conditions for the role are set by IATSE Local 600, International Cinematographers Guild contracts.
Covered by a union? The joining a film union guide explains how each one takes members.