Film Career · Production
Studio Teacher
Production · IATSE Local 884 in California
- Union
- IATSE Local 884 in California
- Day rate
- ~$500–$650/day
- Experience
- Entry level
What does a Studio Teacher do?
When minors work on a production, a studio teacher is legally required, combining set education with enforcement of child labor limits. They hold authority to pull a child from set when hours or conditions violate the rules, and productions schedule around them.
What does a Studio Teacher make?
- Day rate about $500-$650 (mandated in California whenever minors work), roughly $80K-$130K a year with steady bookings.
- A credentialed teacher and child-welfare role (IATSE Local 884 in California).
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) ↗
On the job
- Teach minors on set to their school curricula
- Enforce work-hour, rest, and schooling requirements by law
- Certify conditions are safe and appropriate for minors
- Coordinate with ADs so schedules respect the legal limits
You’ll like and be good at this job if:
Hard skills
- You are a credentialed teacher who also knows child-labor law
- You can teach and track welfare on a schedule
Soft skills
- You juggle education and a shooting day
- You advocate calmly for minors
Career progression
Studio teachers are credentialed educators who add the state certification for on-set work. Veterans build relationships with casting and production offices that keep them with productions employing many minors.
How do you become a Studio Teacher?
Teaching credentials first, then the studio teacher certification your state requires. California's system is the model: the state Labor Commissioner (DLSE) certifies studio teachers while Local 884 represents them; family-heavy productions and commercials provide steady first bookings.
On covered productions, rates, hours, and conditions for the role are set by IATSE Local 884 in California contracts.
Covered by a union? The joining a film union guide explains how each one takes members.