1st AC Day Rate (2026): What Camera Assistants Actually Make
What 1st ACs actually make in 2026 by city and project type. 1st AC, 2nd AC, DIT, and Loader rates. Kit fees, OT, and how the camera department actually pays.
1st AC Day Rate (2026): What Camera Assistants Actually Make
A 1st AC (First Assistant Camera, also called "focus puller") is the technical lead under the camera operator. They pull focus during takes, manage lens changes, run the camera body, and supervise the AC crew. The role demands precision, speed, and zero tolerance for soft shots. Working 1st ACs in major US markets in 2026 are pulling $500-900/day non-union, $900-1,400/day on union signatory work.
This guide is the practical breakdown of camera assistant rates in 2026: 1st AC, 2nd AC, DIT, and Loader, by city and project type, with kit fees and union context.
Quick Reference Table
| Role | Non-union day rate | Union day rate w/ P&H |
|---|---|---|
| 1st AC | $500-900 | $900-1,400 |
| 2nd AC | $400-700 | $700-1,000 |
| DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) | $500-1,000 | $900-1,400 |
| Loader / Camera Trainee | $300-500 | $600-800 |
These are LA baseline ranges. Apply ~0.85x for Atlanta, ~0.95x for NYC. Toronto and Vancouver run ~0.90x of LA, often paid in CAD.
For broader rate context across all departments, see Film Crew Day Rates by Role and City (2026).
1st AC Day Rate by Project Type
Indie Features and Music Videos
| Role | Day rate range |
|---|---|
| 1st AC | $500-650 |
| 2nd AC | $400-500 |
| DIT | $500-650 |
Indie work is most ACs' day-to-day for the first 1-3 years. Rates are honest but capped by indie budgets.
Mid-Budget Commercials
| Role | Day rate range |
|---|---|
| 1st AC | $650-850 |
| 2nd AC | $500-650 |
| DIT | $700-900 |
Commercial work in major markets pays consistently. 1st ACs often build a relationship with a specific commercial DP and follow them across multiple campaigns.
Episodic TV (Non-Tentpole)
| Role | Non-union | Union (Local 600) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st AC | $700-850 | $900-1,100 |
| 2nd AC | $500-650 | $700-900 |
| DIT | $750-950 | $1,000-1,200 |
Episodic series typically run 5-day weeks for 4-6 months. Union shows include P&H benefits worth ~25% on top of straight day rate.
Major Studio Features and Streamer Tentpoles
| Role | Union (Local 600) |
|---|---|
| 1st AC | $1,100-1,400+ |
| 2nd AC | $900-1,100 |
| DIT | $1,100-1,500 |
| Loader | $700-900 |
Signatory shows where union rate floors apply. Specialty productions (high-frame-rate, IMAX, anamorphic) often command additional rate premiums.
Kit Fees
Camera assistants carry meaningful personal kits. Kit fees in 2026:
| Role | Typical kit fee |
|---|---|
| 1st AC | $50-150/day |
| 2nd AC | $25-75/day |
| DIT | $200-500/day (DIT cart + monitors + storage) |
| Loader | Minimal (production provides film/cards) |
What's covered in a 1st AC kit:
- Slate / clapperboard (often a personal one with custom info written)
- AC tools (focus knobs, follow-focus marks, depth-of-field calculators)
- Personal hex keys, wrenches
- Sharpies, gaffer tape, electrical tape
- Personal walkie surveillance kit
- Headlamp + backup
- Knee pads
- Tape measure (focus distances)
- Sometimes specialty AC accessories accumulated over years
DIT kits are larger and more expensive (cart, multiple monitors, storage RAID, calibration tools). DIT kit fees reflect that.
Overtime
Standard non-union OT for camera ACs:
- Hours 1-10: straight time (day rate ÷ 10)
- Hours 10-12: 1.5x straight time
- Hours 12+: 2x straight time
- 6th day: 1.5x of prorated day rate
- 7th day: 2x of prorated day rate
Union shows (Local 600 covered) follow contract OT rules with penalties for missed meals and short turnarounds.
A $700 day rate translates to $70/hour straight time. Working a 14-hour day means: ($70 × 10) + ($105 × 2) + ($140 × 2) = $1,190 for the day.
Union: IATSE Local 600
IATSE Local 600 (the International Cinematographers Guild) covers:
- Cinematographers / Directors of Photography
- Camera Operators
- 1st ACs / Focus Pullers
- 2nd ACs
- Digital Imaging Technicians (DITs)
- Loaders
- Still Photographers
- Publicists (some)
Membership requires:
- A specific number of qualifying days on Local 600 covered productions
- Sponsorship by an existing member or proof of qualifying experience
- Initiation fee (typically several thousand dollars)
- Ongoing dues
What it gets you:
- Access to union signatory work (most major studio and streamer productions)
- Pension and Health (P&H) contributions on every signatory day
- Mandatory rate floors that are higher than non-union
- Penalties for missed meals, short turnarounds, OT violations
Local 600 has chapters in major US production cities (LA, NYC, ATL, Chicago, etc.). Working ACs typically join after 2-4 years of consistent qualifying days.
The 2nd AC Day Rate Specifics
The 2nd AC supports the 1st AC by:
- Slating each take
- Marking actor positions on the floor
- Managing the slate and clapperboard
- Loading magazines (on film projects) or backup cards (on digital)
- Helping with lens changes
- Maintaining camera reports
2nd ACs are typically the entry rung in the camera department, with day rates ranging $400-700 non-union depending on city and project type. The career path: 2nd AC → 1st AC → Camera Operator → DP. Most working 2nd ACs spend 2-4 years before stepping up to 1st AC.
The DIT Day Rate Specifics
DITs (Digital Imaging Technicians) handle the digital workflow on set:
- Data wrangling (offloading camera cards to backups)
- On-set color (initial LUT/look application)
- Quality control on captured footage
- Dailies prep for the editor
- Storage management
DITs work at the intersection of camera, post, and IT. Day rates are higher than 1st ACs because the kit ($30K+ in personal cart, monitors, RAID storage) and technical skill required are significant. Kit fees of $200-500/day reflect that gear investment.
DITs often come from one of three backgrounds:
- Post-production (assistant editor, colorist) crossing into on-set work
- Camera (1st AC) crossing into DIT
- IT / specialty technical with film production training
How City Multipliers Apply
For 2026, applying our city multipliers (LA = 1.0x baseline):
| City | Multiplier | 1st AC range |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 1.00x | $500-900 |
| New York City | 0.95x | $475-855 |
| Atlanta | 0.85x | $425-765 |
| Toronto | 0.90x | $450-810 |
| Chicago | 0.85x | $425-765 |
| New Orleans | 0.80x | $400-720 |
| Albuquerque | 0.85x | $425-765 |
| Austin | 0.80-0.90x | $400-810 |
ACs occasionally travel for out-of-town work and command home-market rates plus per diem and travel pay. This is real: NYC 1st ACs working in Atlanta often earn NYC rates while there.
What 1st ACs Should Negotiate
Three rules:
1. Quote a range, not a number. "I'm typically $650-800 depending on length and complexity" leaves room.
2. Confirm everything in writing. Day rate, kit fee, OT treatment, call time, wrap target, and meal schedule. A simple email deal memo is sufficient on smaller productions.
3. Charge for prep and travel days separately. Prep days are typically half rate; travel days are typically 8 hours straight time.
For more on the working deal memo, see Crew Deal Memo Template.
What Producers Should Budget for Camera Department
For producers planning shoots, camera department budget = day rates + kit fees + OT contingency + payroll fees.
For a 4-day mid-budget commercial in LA:
| Role | Day rate | Days | Kit fee | OT contingency | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP | $1,500 | 4 | $0 (DP often doesn't kit) | 15% | $6,900 |
| 1st AC | $750 | 4 | $100/day = $400 | 15% | $3,910 |
| 2nd AC | $600 | 4 | $50/day = $200 | 15% | $3,070 |
| DIT | $850 | 4 | $300/day = $1,200 | 15% | $5,290 |
| Camera dept total | $19,170 |
Plus payroll fees if running through a payroll house (1-3% on top).
For more on overall budgeting, see Production Budget Template for Indie Filmmakers.
How NeedaCrew Helps Working ACs Find Work
NeedaCrew is the US/Canada marketplace for film crew and casting. Camera department roles are well-represented on the platform.
For working ACs:
- Profile with photos, gear list, and kit details
- Saved searches by city, role, and rate range
- Direct messaging with DPs, key grips, and producers
- Notifications when AC calls match your role
The platform's City Rate Browser shows entry/mid/senior rate ranges for AC roles across 60+ cities, useful for benchmarking your rate over time.
TL;DR
- 2026 1st AC non-union day rates: $500-900 (LA); $475-855 (NYC); $425-765 (ATL)
- Union (Local 600): $900-1,400 + P&H benefits
- 2nd AC: ~70% of 1st AC rate
- DIT: typically slightly higher than 1st AC + larger kit fee ($200-500/day)
- Loader: entry-level, $300-500 non-union
- Kit fees: 1st AC $50-150/day, DIT $200-500/day
- Overtime: 1.5x at hour 10, 2x at hour 12 (standard non-union)
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