Know your rate.
Freelance day rate calculator for film and video crew
Start with what you need to take home. The calculator adds self-employment tax, health insurance, the days you can't bill and a profit margin, then shows where your number sits against market rates for your role.
Why this number is different
- You can't bill 260 days.
- A salary assumes about 260 working days. The calculator starts at 150, because prep, admin, pitching and slow months fill the rest.
- You pay both halves of payroll tax.
- 15.3% self-employment tax, on top of federal and state income tax.
- Health insurance comes out of the rate.
- $7,400 a year by default, or the marketplace price for your ZIP code.
- Profit isn't take-home.
- An optional 20% margin pays for gear, slow years and growth, separate from what you live on.
Your day rate covers the day. Prep, travel, kit and post go on their own lines.
Know the market. Set your rate. Quote the job. Get paid.
Check the market
Rate guides for 15 crew roles, by experience level, production type and state.
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Day rates by role
Mid-level national day rates. Each guide breaks the rate down by experience level, production type and state, for cinematographers, editors, colorists, gaffers, sound mixers and the rest of the crew.
- Cinematographer / DP$750–$1,400
- Video Editor$550–$900
- Colorist$600–$1,000
- Motion Designer$550–$850
- Producer$650–$1,100
- Camera Operator$600–$950
- Sound Mixer$650–$1,000
- Key Grip$600–$950
- First AC / Focus Puller$550–$900
- Production Assistant$200–$300
- Gaffer$625–$1,000
- DIT$550–$900
- Makeup Artist / HMU$450–$750
- Script Supervisor$450–$800
- Drone Operator / Aerial DP$700–$1,100
Where the numbers come from
Market ranges come from IATSE local rate cards, ProductionHub and Mandy rate surveys, and research across U.S. production markets. The tax math follows the IRS and state tax tables, and health insurance uses KFF marketplace data.
The guides and the calculator read the same rate table, so a guide can't publish a range the calculator disagrees with.
Built by Derek Olson, a Telly Award–winning director and the founder of Grain and Thunder.
Read the methodology →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my freelance day rate?
Start with your annual take-home goal, add health insurance (~$7,400/year for an individual), then add self-employment tax (15.3%), and an optional 20% profit margin. Divide the total by your estimated billable days — typically 100–175/year. This gives the day rate you need to break even and build a sustainable business.
How much should a freelance cinematographer or DP charge per day?
Freelance cinematographer (DP) day rates run $400–$750/day for emerging DPs, $750–$1,400 mid-level, $1,400–$2,500 senior, and $2,500–$5,000 for expert DPs. Rates increase by roughly 30% in major markets like New York or Los Angeles.
What is a fair day rate for a freelance video editor?
Freelance video editor day rates run $300–$550/day for emerging editors, $550–$900 mid-level, $900–$1,400 senior, and $1,400–$2,200 for expert editors. Major markets like LA and NYC command a 30% premium.
Why do freelancers need to charge more than salaried employees?
Freelancers pay both the employee and employer halves of Social Security and Medicare taxes — a 15.3% self-employment tax that salaried workers split with their employer. Freelancers also pay their own health insurance, have no paid time off, and must cover slow periods with revenue from billable days. These costs must be built into the day rate to break even.
How does location affect freelance day rates?
Major markets like New York and Los Angeles typically pay 25–35% more than national baseline rates due to higher cost of living and denser production markets. Mid-sized markets approximate the national baseline. Smaller markets run 10–20% below.
How many billable days per year does a freelancer actually work?
Most full-time freelancers bill between 100 and 175 days per year. The rest goes to unpaid admin, business development, travel, invoicing, taxes, and seasonal slowdowns. 150 days is a realistic estimate for an established freelancer.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, business, legal, or tax advice. Actual rates depend on your market, portfolio, client relationships, and many other factors. Consult with industry peers or a financial advisor before setting your rates.