Rates, 2026
What should a producer charge in a smaller market?
About $625 a day for a producer who is working and booked in a smaller US market. $475 in the first years, $775 when senior. Producing a shoot runs about $4,550. Also called: line producer, content producer.
Other markets: New York or LA · a major city · remote
First years
$475
a day · $60 an hour
Working, booked
$625
a day · $80 an hour
Senior, sought after
$775
a day · $95 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$625 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$80 per hour
- Producing a shoot$4,550 per project
Sold by the day, a project fee. The day is the unit; half days run 60%.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for a smaller US market: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Pre-production day$350 to $700 per day
- Producing a one-day shoot, start to wrap$2,100 to $4,200 per project
- Producing a multi-day shoot$4,200 to $10,500 per project
- Budget and schedule only$550 to $1,400 per project
How the number is made
Producers at this level in this market day at about $625 ($600 to $1,200 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
Producing a shoot runs $3,000 to $10,000 and takes about 40 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $3,200. The number is the higher of the two, because the client is buying the outcome, not the hours.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a producer in a smaller US market?
- About $625 a day for someone working and booked, $475 in the first years, $775 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is producing a shoot?
- $4,550 at a working level in this market. The client is buying the outcome, so the price is the higher of what the market pays for it and what your hours in it are worth.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
More in production crew
directordirector of photographycamera operatorsound mixergafferhair and makeup artistwardrobe stylistproduction assistant