Film Career · Sound
Assistant Sound Editor
Sound · IATSE Local 695 and Local 700
- Union
- IATSE Local 695 and Local 700
- Day rate
- ~$450–$750/day
- Experience
- 1–4 yrs
What does an Assistant Sound Editor do?
The assistant sound editor supports the senior members of the sound department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving.
On union productions the position falls under IATSE Local 695 and Local 700, which sets the rates, hours, and conditions the role works within. The role is engaged show by show, and careers in sound are built on the department heads and crews who hire the same trusted people back.
What does an Assistant Sound Editor make?
- This is an entry or assistant chair, toward the lower end of its department's range.
- Production and post sound is paid by the day or week: boom and utility roughly $450-$750 a day, mixers and supervising editors far more, plus kit rentals for production sound.
- Roughly $60K-$220K+ a year (IATSE Local 695 and 700).
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 have sharp ears and command of audio gear
Soft skills
- You are reliable, eager to learn, and happy to start at the bottom
- 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 Sound Editor (this role)
- 2Sound Editor
- 3Supervising Sound Editor
Career progression
Within this craft family the recognized progression runs from assistant sound editor toward supervising sound editor, 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 sound 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 Sound Editoryou are here
~$60K–$220K+/yr
~$60K–$400K+/yr
~$60K–$220K+/yr
How do you become an Assistant Sound Editor?
This is a chair you can target directly: productions staff it from applicants with related skills and from people already working nearby on the crew. Get onto sets in any capacity, tell the department what you want, and be ready when a slot opens.
On covered productions, rates, hours, and conditions for the role are set by IATSE Local 695 and Local 700 contracts.
Covered by a union? The joining a film union guide explains how each one takes members.