Behind the Lens

Film Career · Electric / Grip

Rigging Gaffer / Rigging Key Grip

Electric / Grip · IATSE Local 728 (electric) / Local 80 (grip), LA

Union
IATSE Local 728
Day rate
~$400–$1,400/day
Experience
6–11 yrs
How to join your union View in the set org chart

What does a Rigging Gaffer / Rigging Key Grip do?

Rigging crews work ahead of the shooting company, pre-lighting stages and pre-building grip infrastructure so the main unit walks into a set that is ready. On big shows the rigging departments can outnumber the shooting crew, and rigging is a standard entry route into both crafts.

What does a Rigging Gaffer / Rigging Key Grip make?

  • Day rate about $400-$1,400 (the same scale tier as the gaffer and key grip, around $60-$63 an hour), roughly $60K-$170K a year.
  • Rigging crews often run longer prep and steadier weeks; large features and streamers drive the top.

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:

On the job

  • Pre-light stages and locations to the gaffer's plan before the company arrives
  • Build grip infrastructure: greenbeds, rag rigs, and support steel
  • Wrap and leapfrog locations so shooting never waits on rigging
  • Run large crews against hard install deadlines

You’ll like and be good at this job if:

Hard skills

  • You know heavy rigging, structure, and load safety
  • You can pre-plan and pre-build a rig ahead of the crew

Soft skills

  • You think ahead and like the planning phase
  • You are strong on safety

Career progression

Rigging heads rise through their craft's ranks with a logistics bent: electrician or grip, then rigging best boy, then rigging gaffer or key. The chairs are peers of the shooting heads and a proven route to them.

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.

  1. Electrician (Set Lighting Technician)· 3-5 yrs

    ~$45K–$130K/yr

  2. Best Boy (Electric and Grip)· 3-6 yrs

    ~$50K–$150K/yr

  3. Rigging Gaffer / Rigging Key Gripyou are here· peak of the craft

    ~$60K–$170K/yr

  4. Gaffer· cross over

    ~$55K–$180K/yr

How do you become a Rigging Gaffer / Rigging Key Grip?

Rigging crews hire in volume, which makes them the honest front door to electric and grip. Construction, electrical, and theatrical rigging backgrounds transfer; show up strong and learn the systems.

On covered productions, rates, hours, and conditions for the role are set by IATSE Local 728 (electric) / Local 80 (grip), LA contracts.

Covered by a union? The joining a film union guide explains how each one takes members.