The Rate Guide

Rate Guides

Research-backed day rate data by discipline — union contracts, industry surveys, and working professionals. Know what the market pays before you name a number.

Cinematographer shooting on location
Cinematographer / DP
8 min read

Cinematographer Day Rate: What to Charge in 2026

$300–$600
$3,500+

Rate ranges by experience level, production type, and market — drawn from IATSE Local 600 rate cards, No Film School's 2,000-respondent survey, and working DP rate sheets.

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Video editor at workstation
Video Editor

Video Editor Day Rate: What to Charge in 2026

$300–$500
$1,200+

Day rate, hourly, and project pricing for freelance editors — from Cutjamm's 2025 salary survey, IATSE Local 700 contracts, and working editor rate sheets.

9 min readRead →
Color grading in a dark post-production suite
Colorist

Colorist Day Rate: What to Charge in 2026

$300–$500
$1,500+

Rates by experience level, production type, and market — with IATSE Local 700 union minimums, the DaVinci Resolve ownership factor, and the revision trap that quietly kills colorist margins.

9 min readRead →
Motion graphics on screen
Motion Designer

Motion Designer Day Rate: What to Charge in 2026

$350–$600
$1,200+

Day rates for freelance motion designers and After Effects artists — by production type, software stack, and market. When to charge separately for design vs. animation.

8 min readRead →
Film clapperboard on set
Producer

Producer Day Rate: What to Charge in 2026

$400–$650
$1,500+

Day rates for freelance producers — line producers, field producers, and executive producers. Budget tier, project type, and when a percentage deal makes more sense than a day rate.

9 min readRead →
Camera operator on set
Camera Operator

Camera Operator Day Rate: What to Charge in 2026

$350–$600
$1,600–$2,800

Day rates for freelance camera operators — B-camera, steadicam, gimbal, and ENG. How the rate differs from a DP and when operators carry their own package.

7 min readRead →
Sound mixer with audio equipment
Sound Mixer
Coming soon

Sound Mixer Day Rate: What to Charge in 2026

$350–$550
$1,200+

Day rates for freelance production sound mixers — narrative, documentary, commercial, and corporate. Equipment package rates and the difference between production sound and post audio.

In progress
Film lighting setup on set
Gaffer

Gaffer Day Rate: What to Charge in 2026

$350–$600
$1,600–$2,500

Day rates for freelance gaffers — commercial, narrative, and branded content. Gear package rates, best boy splits, and how lighting complexity drives rate.

7 min readRead →
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