Script Supervisor Salary: What You’ll Make and Why
Script supervisors make around $48,205 to $70,053 on average in the US, depending on experience, location, skills, and other factors.
According to various salary aggregate websites, a script supervisor’s salary in the US ranges between $48,205 and $70,053, with an average salary of $61,641. As of June 2022, the base salaries for script supervisors are listed as follows:
| Payscale | ZipRecruiter | Indeed | Salary.com | Glassdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $53,532 | $67,055 | $48,205 | $70,053 | $69,358 |
Keep in mind: Salary aggregate websites typically rely on data submitted anonymously by individuals using their site. Some websites may have received larger amounts of data of either higher or lower than average salaries, which may affect the site’s calculated average.
Read more: What Is a Script Supervisor? How to Become One
What influences a salary?
The salary of a Script Supervisor can be impacted by many factors, including experience, location, and the size of the production. Read on to learn more about how these factors can affect your earnings.
Years of experience
Salary increases are generally tied to your experience level. In general, the more years you spend working as a script supervisor, the more you can expect to earn. Here’s how experience can impact your script supervisor salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Compensation Survey.
| Level of experience | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (less than 1 year) | $27,310 |
| Early career (1 to 4 years) | $36,696 |
| Mid career (5 to 9 years) | $51,788 |
| Experienced (10 to 19 years) | $75,239 |
| Late career (20+ years) | $117,722 |
Location
Where you live can also impact how much you can make as a script supervisor. Typically, working in a large metropolitan area correlates to a higher salary, as well as a higher cost of living.
Here is a list of some major cities with their corresponding average script supervisor salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $86,166 |
| New York City, NY | $77,865 |
| San Francisco, CA | $68,175 |
| Atlanta, GA | $60,429 |
| Washington DC, DC | $59,556 |
| St. Louis, MO | $38,843 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $38,601 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $36,982 |
| Columbus, OH | $35,509 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $34,974 |
How does this compare to similar jobs?
Here’s how a script supervisor’s salary stacks up against similar jobs.
| Related Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Assistant Director | $35,209 |
| Production Assistant | $30,592 |
| Location Scout | $46,970 |
| Production Coordinator | $42,014 |
| Casting Director | $66,085 |
| Art Director | $78,781 |
| Set Designer | $58,957 |
| Costume Designer | $38,185 |
| Hair Stylist | $29,779 |
How to increase your script supervisor salary
Now that you have a better idea of what you could expect to earn as a script supervisor, let’s look at ways to boost your salary.
1. Strengthen your skills
Pursuing and improving in-demand skills could make you more competitive for promotions and higher-paying positions. These skills include:
- Continuity: Maintain continuity between takes and scenes by keeping track of props, wardrobe, and set dressing
- Organization: Stay organized and keep track of a large volume of information, including the script, shot list, and call sheets
- Attention to Detail: Pay close attention to detail in order to catch any errors or discrepancies
- Communication: Communicate effectively with the director, cast, and crew in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page
- Flexibility: Be flexible and adaptable in order to adjust to changes on set or in the script
2. Grow your network
As a script supervisor, you need to be able to work with a variety of people, from the director to the actors. Therefore, it’s important to have a strong network. Get involved in industry events, and make an effort to connect with as many people as possible. The more connections you have, the more likely it is that you’ll hear about new opportunities.
3. Maintain a consistent performance
As a script supervisor, your job is to keep track of the action on set and make sure it matches the script. This can be a challenging and demanding job, but if you’re able to consistently deliver results, you’ll be in a good position to ask for a raise.
Article Sources
1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “National Compensation Survey, https://www.bls.gov/ncs/.” Accessed June 2, 2022.
2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes272012.htm.” Accessed June 2, 2022.
3. Payscale. “Associate Producer, Film/TV Salary, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Associate_Producer%2C_Film%2FTV/Salary.” Accessed June 2, 2022.
4. Ziprecruiter. “Script Supervisor Annual Salary, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Script-Supervisor-Salary.” Accessed June 2, 2022.
5. Indeed. “Indeed Salary Finder, https://www.indeed.com/career/salaries.” Accessed June 2, 2022.
6. Salary.com. “Script Supervisor Salary, https://www.salary.com/research/salary/hiring/script-supervisor-salary.” Accessed June 2, 2022.
7. Glassdoor. “Script Supervisor Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/script-supervisor-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm.” Accessed June 2, 2022.