The average wage for a gaffer in the United States is around $17.26 per hour.
Avg Wage
Gaffers earn an average hourly wage of $17.26.
Salaries typically start from $12.74 per hour and go up to $41.26 per hour.
19% below national average Updated in 2018
Gaffer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level gaffer earnings begin at:
$41.26 per hour
$85,825 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level gaffer earnings begin at:
$24.97 per hour
$51,941 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level gaffer earnings begin at:
$17.26 per hour
$35,902 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level gaffer earnings begin at:
$13.96 per hour
$29,029 per year
10th percentile
Starting level gaffer earnings begin at:
$12.74 per hour
$26,507 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
How do gaffer salaries compare to similar careers?
Gaffers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than television writers but more than announcers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Television writer salary | $62K |
| Film and video editor salary | $60K |
| Cinematographer salary | $40K |
| Sports broadcaster salary | $40K |
| Camera operator salary | $50K |
| Gaffer salary | $36K |
| Model maker salary | $53K |
| Costume attendant salary | $41K |
| Set designer salary | $28K |
| Announcer salary | $33K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)