IATSE Commercial Rates: A Breakdown for Production Teams

Summary:

1. Talent category drives cost: Rates vary based on whether the performer is a principal, extra, voiceover artist, or stunt performer. Script breakdowns help determine categories early.

2. Know your work rules: Understand standard workday lengths, required meal breaks, overtime rates, and night premiums to avoid penalties and unexpected overages.

3. Travel time is work time: Travel outside the studio zone during shoot days counts as work time. Non-shoot day travel often requires a full session fee, and background actors have specific mileage rules.

4. Add-ons: exclusivity, holding fees and hazard pay: Extra costs like holding fees, exclusivity clauses, hazard pay, and wardrobe maintenance can significantly increase performer compensation.

5. Fringes and taxes: Beyond wages, you must account for agency fees, SAG-AFTRA pension & health contributions (currently 20.5%), payroll taxes, workers’ comp, and potential residuals.

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Considering the hire of IATSE crew for your next commercial? The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) represents a network of talented crew members in the entertainment industry, and its terms and rates are essential for ensuring fair compensation. For producers, understanding of IATSE’s commercial rate structure - specifically under the AICP (Association of Independent Commercial Producers) guidelines - is crucial for effective budget planning, navigating union agreements, and ensuring compliance.

In this blog, we’ll break down AICP-standard IATSE commercial rates across various regions, providing insights for any production team looking to stay on budget. We’ll explore the specific rate structures for Los Angeles, the Northeast Corridor, New York’s Local 52 area, and the Bay Area, offering a comprehensive guide to help you plan your projects with confidence.

IATSE Commercial Rate Structure

The IATSE commercial rate structure is designed to ensure that all crew members receive fair compensation under the unique demands and costs associated with different regions and the type of production. These rates are based on AICP-negotiated agreements, which serve as the standard for union commercial productions. Here is an overview of how it works:

Regional Rate Structures at a Glance

Each region sets a minimum hourly rate that every crew member must be paid.  Here we list the regions we’ll cover, including the specific crew members and rates.

Regions	Crew Members	Rate Structure
Los Angeles (LA)	IATSE CPA Scale: Director of photography Camera Operator 1st camera assistant 2nd camera assistant Camera loader / Utility Digital imaging technician Sound mixer Microphone boom operator Utility sound technician VTR / video playback Teleprompter operator Key grips Lighting technician Property masters Costume designers Make-up artists	IATSE CPA Scale: Hourly rate (0-8 hours) Minimum call (8 hours)
Northeast Corridor (CT, DE, MD, MA, NY, NJ, PA, DC)	Director of photography Camera operator 1st camera assistant 2nd camera assistant Camera loader / Utility Digital imaging technician Still photographer Script supervisor Make-up artists Hair stylists Location scout / manager	Hourly rate 8 hours are at straight time and remaining 2 hours are paid at 1.5x
Local 52 Rates in New York and neighboring states	Sound mixer Video record / playback Video assist Teleprompter Microphone boom operator Recordist Shop craft - department head Electrician - department head Property - department head Set decorator - department head Grip - department head Generator operator - department head

Los Angeles (LA) Rates

Los Angeles is a major hot spot for film productions that operates with its own set of commercial rates. Commercial rates within LA are integrated with AICP standards. The rates are as follows:

2024 - 2025 IATSE CPA Scale Rate
Classification	Hourly rate (0-8 hours)	Minimum call (8 hours)
Director of photography	$148.35	$1,186.80
Camera operator	$90.82	$726.56
1st camera assistant	$65.70	$525.60
2nd camera assistant	$60.33	$482.64
Camera loader / utility	$54.38	$435.04
Digital imaging technician	$86.54	$692.32
Sound mixer	$101.33	$810.64
Microphone boom operator	$68.41	$547.28
Utility sound technician	$68.41	$547.28
VTR / video playback	$68.41	$547.28
VTR assistant	$54.38	$435.04
Teleprompter operator	$68.41	$547.28

IATSE On-Call Crew Members

On-Call crew members get paid daily rather than hourly and overtime is calculated after 13 hours. Here is a list of crew members who would classify as on-call:

• Costume Designer

• Production Designer/Art Director

• Assistant Art Director

• Art Department Coordinator

• Set Decorator

• Construction Coordinator

• Paint Foreperson

Northeast Corridor Rates

The Northeast Corridor covers key states including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. The union locals that would fall under this category include local 600, 798 and 161 crew members. For commercial productions in this region, IATSE rates are also aligned with AICP standards. The rates are as follows:

Northeast Corridor Wage rates
Classification	Union Local	Hourly Rate (10 hour minimum call) 8 hours are at straight time and remaining 2 hours are paid at 1.5x
Director of photography	600	$166.08
Camera operator	600	$96.08
1st camera assistant	600	$92.76
2nd camera assistant	600	$83.11
Camera loader / utility	600	$71.48
Digital imaging technician	600	$86.53
Still photographer	600	$96.08
Script supervisor	161	$85.28
Make-up stylist	798	$72.35
Hair stylist	798	$72.35
Location scout / manager		$865.28

IATSE covers Location Scouts / Managers in certain states. Outside the following states, they are covered by Teamsters

• Louisiana

• Maine

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• New Hampshire

• New Mexico

• Puerto Rico

• Tennessee

• Vermont

• Virginia

• Washington DC

Local 52 in New York & Neighboring States

Productions taking place in New York and neighboring states must negotiate directly with local 52 to become signatory and work with union crew. However, once a production is signatory with local 52, all crew members employed under this union are paid under local 52 rates. This can be a challenge for productions such as low budget shoots that have smaller budgets. Additionally, Local 52 enforces a minimum 10-hour daily call for all crew members, which can further impact budgeting and scheduling. If you're looking to secure union crew while taking advantage of exclusive rates available only through our services, we invite you to reach out and discover how we can help streamline your production costs.

Local 52 includes the following classifications:

• Sound Mixer

• Video Record/Playback

• Video Assist

• Teleprompter

• Microphone boom operator

• Recordist

• Shop Craft – Department Head

• Electrician - Department Head

• Property - Department Head

• Set Decorator - Department Head

• Grip - Department Head

• Generator Operator - Department Head

• Medic - Department Head

• 2nd Shop Craft

• 2nd Electrician

• 2nd Property

• 2nd Grip

• 2nd Medic

• 3rd Shop Craft

• 3rd Electrician

• 3rd Property

• 3rd Grip

Outside LA Rates

For regions outside of Los Angeles, productions will follow the AICP-negotiated rates. The rates apply to all IATSE crew members and are as follows:

Wage Rates Outside of L.A. County
Classification	Rate	Minimum Call (8 hours)
Director of photography	$148.35	$1,186.80
Camera operator	$90.82	$726.56
1st camera assistant	$65.70	$525.60
2nd camera assistant	$60.33	$482.64
Camera loader / utility	$51.64	$413.12
Digital imaging technician	$86.54	$692.32
Sound mixer	$93.68	$749.44
Microphone boom operator	$63.21	$505.68
Utility sound technician	$63.21	$505.68
VTR / video plaback	$63.21	$505.68
Teleprompter operator	$63.21	$505.68
Key grip	$63.21	$505.68

Bay Area & Local 16 Rates

In the Bay Area, productions must apply rates under local 16. The Bay Area Technical and Creative Management (BATCOM) further influences these rates for commercial productions with its own set of terms and regulations. Like other regions, these rates are informed by the AICP agreements. The rates are as follows:

Bay Area Television Commercial Agreement - Wage Rates
Classification	Per hour no less than	Effective 8/1/2024 - 7/31/2025
First technician in each department (includes 1st unit, second unit and pre-rig) electric, property, grip, set director, special effects, video, etc.	Per hour no less than	$60.81
Second technician in each department: dolly grip, best boy, department asst., onset dresser, draper, special lighting tech, generator op, lead set dresser	Per hour no less than	$56.53
Electricians, property personnel, craft service, grips, cable, utility	Per hour no less than	$52.32
Set dresser	Per hour no less than	$52.32
Sound mixer	Per hour no less than	$85.17
Boom	Per hour no less than	$62.57
Video asst. (extra)	Per hour no less than	$52.32
Special effects coordinator	Per hour no less than	$70.46
Special effects foreman	Per hour no less than	$60.81
Special effects technician	Per hour no less than	$56.53
Script*	Per hour no less than	$56.53
First aid	Per hour no less than	$47.31

How to Ensure IATSE Compliance & Budget Effectively 

Ensuring you hire union crew under the right agreements will ensure you remain compliant to terms and regulations while budgeting effectively for your production. Here are three different components to consider to ensure you hire IATSE crew effectively.

1. Understanding the correct rate for each region

   Rates along with terms and regulations vary by region. Ensuring you hire union crew under the right region will ensure you budget effectively while remaining compliant.

2. Working with unions and signatory agreements

   Productions often need to become signatories to a union, such as Local 52 and 16) in order to hire union crew under these rates. 

   It is important to note that once a production has gained signatory status, all future productions must be union and adhere to union rates and terms.

3. Additional fees

   Productions should consider additional fees such as: 

   • Overtime

   • Weekend / Holidays

   • Premium pay

   • Travel time

   • Rehearsal 

   • Equipment usage

   • Turnaround time

Conclusion: Streamline Hiring IATSE Crew for Commercial Productions

It’s essential for producers to understand the different IATSE Commercial rates that apply for each crew member and the components that shape those rates. By keeping informed of these regional differences and union specifics producers will be able to budget effectively and remain compliant throughout production. 

Can we assist your team in hiring a union crew? 

CMS Productions is a third-party union signatory signed directly to the AICP Teamsters 399 (LA) and 817 (NY) agreements as well as several IATSE contracts and can service on most productions. 

Contact us today to set up a call.