Film Career · Script And Continuity
Assistant Script Supervisor
Script And Continuity · IATSE script supervisor locals
- Union
- IATSE script supervisor locals
- Day rate
- ~$450–$700/day
- Experience
- 1–4 yrs
What does an Assistant Script Supervisor do?
A assistant script supervisor is the supporting chair in the script and continuity department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on.
On union productions the position falls under IATSE script supervisor locals, which sets the rates, hours, and conditions the role works within. The role is engaged show by show, and careers in script and continuity are built on the department heads and crews who hire the same trusted people back.
What does an Assistant Script Supervisor make?
- This is an entry or assistant chair, toward the lower end of its department's range.
- Script supervision is paid by the day or week: roughly $450-$700 a day, $2,800-$4,200 a week, or roughly $70K-$130K a year (IATSE script supervisor locals).
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 can track continuity, timing, and coverage in detail
Soft skills
- You have the energy for long days and a good attitude under pressure
- You anticipate what the crew needs and stay a step ahead
The ladder
Related chairs in this craft family, ordered from entry toward leadership:
- 1Assistant Script Supervisor (this role)
- 2Script Supervisor
Career progression
Within this craft family the recognized progression runs from assistant script supervisor toward script supervisor, 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 script and continuity 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.
- Assistant Script Supervisoryou are here
~$70K–$130K/yr
~$70K–$130K/yr
How do you become an Assistant Script Supervisor?
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 script supervisor locals contracts.
Covered by a union? The joining a film union guide explains how each one takes members.