Los Angeles Key Grip Day Rate (2026): What LA Key Grips Charge

The key grip is the head of the grip department and the person who makes the physical geometry of a shot happen. They build and run the rigging, handle camera support and mounting, operate the dolly and coordinate crane work, and shape light with flags, frames, and diffusion. The DP owns the look. The gaffer designs the light. The key grip solves how the camera moves, how it mounts, and how everything overhead gets held safely in the air. In Los Angeles in 2026, working key grips are commonly charging $650-1,000/day on non-union commercial work and $850-1,400/day on episodic and feature, with the senior rigging tier quoting above that on complex builds.

This guide is the practical breakdown of what an LA key grip actually charges in 2026: how the number gets built, what moves it, the split by project type, what the truck adds, and how IATSE Local 80 fits the math.

The quick answer

Tier	Non-union commercial	Episodic / feature (union or non-union)
Entry / new key grip	$500-700	$600-900
Mid-tier (5-10 years)	$700-1,000	$900-1,300
Senior / rigging specialist	$1,000-1,600+	$1,300-1,800+

These ranges are for a 10 to 12-hour day in Los Angeles in 2026, and they cover the key grip's labor only. Kit fees, box rental, the grip truck, and overtime all come on top. Prep and rigging days are billed separately. What you actually pay depends on the complexity of the rig, whether the shoot needs specialty mounts, and how deep the key grip's crew and equipment relationships run.

Why LA key grip rates land where they do

Los Angeles is the largest and most competitive production market in North America, and the grip labor pool here is deeper than anywhere else on the continent. That depth keeps entry and mid-tier rates honest, because there is a working key grip at nearly every price point. The ceiling is set by senior key grips who can run a complicated rig, high-speed work, car and process mounts, condor and crane setups, water work, and period builds. That shortlist is small and books early.

Union coverage through IATSE Local 80. In Los Angeles, union grips are covered by IATSE Local 80, the Motion Picture Studio Grips and Craft Service local. Studio features and most streaming series run signatory, so Local 80 scale, conditions, and benefit contributions apply on that work. National commercial frequently shoots non-union, and senior key grips there often quote at or near union-equivalent, which pulls the whole non-union commercial band upward.

Rig complexity, not just seniority. A key grip rate is really a bet on how hard the day is. A talking-head interview needs a fraction of the grip department that a car-mount sequence or an overhead menace build does. The more rigging, mounting, and safety load on the key grip, the higher the quote climbs, and the more the specialty gear rents for.

Crew and package relationships. A strong key grip does not arrive alone. They bring a best boy grip, dolly grip, and swing grips they trust, plus rental-house relationships that can bring the grip package in cleaner than you would source it cold. That whole-department reliability is part of what the senior rate buys.

By project type

National commercial campaign. $900-1,600/day for a working senior key grip. Spots with hard rigging, condor work, car mounts, or overhead menaces move toward the upper end, and specialty rigs (process trailers, marine work, helicopter mounts) command additional day-rate bumps. National commercial is where the senior LA grip tier makes most of its income.

Branded content and regional commercial. $650-1,000/day. Smaller grip packages, lighter rigging demands, faster turnarounds. This is where mid-tier key grips build the resume that eventually moves them into national work.

Streaming and episodic. Most series in LA shoot signatory, so Local 80 key grip scale applies. A series key grip typically lands $1,000-1,500/day plus box rental and adders depending on classification, with senior key grips on established shows exceeding that.

Independent feature. $700-1,000/day non-union, and often structured as a flat weekly to fit the budget. Indie features run leaner grip packages and shorter dolly and rigging days. A key grip who believes in the project will move on rate.

Music video. $800-1,400/day, but variable. Label-funded videos for established artists pay real money and often demand ambitious rigs. Independent artist videos run leaner and lean on favors.

Budgeting a full department? See the 2026 film crew day rates guide for how the grip line sits alongside camera, electric, and sound, and if you are ready to move, post your project to get matched with available LA key grips.

What the day rate does and does not include

This is where coordinators get surprised, so read it twice. The quoted key grip day rate is labor for a standard 10 to 12-hour day. It usually does not include:

The grip truck and rigging package. This is the big one. The grip truck, dolly, and rigging package are a separate rental line item, not part of the key grip's labor rate. Many LA key grips own their own truck and bill the truck rental separately from their day rate. A standard grip truck with a full package commonly rents in the several-hundred-per-day range, and larger trucks with heavier rigging gear rent for more. The combined key grip plus truck line is routinely a large multiple of the labor rate alone, so budget both.

Prep and rigging days. Pre-rigs, load-ins, scouts, and strike days are typically billed at a prep-day rate, commonly a portion of the shoot-day rate. A rig-heavy shoot can carry as many prep and rigging days as shoot days, and those are real budget lines, not rounding error.

Kit fee. A working key grip usually carries a personal kit (walkies, tools, tie-downs, straps, specialty clamps and adapters) and bills a modest daily kit fee even when the production books a full truck.

Overtime. Hours past the agreed day trigger overtime, typically at time-and-a-half and then double time on union work. Grip days run long, especially on rigging-heavy shoots, so build an overtime buffer into every budget.

How to hire an LA key grip without overpaying

The most common budgeting mistake is anchoring on the labor rate and forgetting the truck, the prep days, and the rest of the grip department. The total is what matters. Three practical moves:

Match the tier to the rig. An interview or a simple product spot does not need a senior rigging specialist at the top of the band. Overpaying for rigging capability you will not use on screen is the fastest way to blow a grip budget. Pay for the complexity the day actually demands.

Bundle the truck conversation early. A key grip who owns a well-stocked truck can often package labor plus truck cleaner than you would source them separately, and they know exactly what their package covers. Have that conversation before you lock the rate, and get the truck line in writing.

Book availability, not just rate. In a market this deep, the constraint is rarely finding a key grip at your price. It is finding a good one, with the right crew and the right truck, actually free on your dates. Lock availability first.

Post your project on NeedaCrew and get matched with verified, available key grips in Los Angeles who fit your budget, your rig, and your shoot dates: post a project. You can also browse key grips in Los Angeles directly. If you are a key grip working in LA, list yourself on NeedaCrew so producers find you when the dates line up.

Budget the grip and electric departments together

The key grip and the gaffer head sister departments and get budgeted as a pair by most coordinators, so do not price one without the other. For the electric side of the same shoot, see the Los Angeles gaffer day rate. For the creative lead who specs both, see the Los Angeles DP day rate. For the full picture across departments and markets, the 2026 film crew day rates hub ties it together, and you can compare LA against a major incentive market with the Atlanta key grip day rate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average key grip day rate in Los Angeles in 2026? There is no single average, because rig complexity swings the number so much. A working mid-tier key grip commonly lands $700-1,000/day on non-union commercial and $900-1,300/day on episodic and feature. Entry-level key grips quote lower, and senior rigging specialists on complex builds quote well above these bands.

Does the key grip day rate include the grip truck? No. The grip truck, dolly, and rigging package are a separate rental line. Many LA key grips own their own truck and bill the truck rental separately from their labor. Always budget both the labor line and the truck line, since the combined figure is usually several times the day rate alone.

Are LA key grips covered by a union? Yes, on signatory work. In Los Angeles, union grips are covered by IATSE Local 80. Studio features and most streaming series run signatory, so Local 80 scale and conditions apply. National commercial often shoots non-union, where senior key grips frequently quote near union-equivalent anyway.

Do key grips charge for prep and rigging days? Yes, in almost all cases. Pre-rigs, load-ins, scouts, and strikes are typically billed separately at a prep-day rate. A rigging-heavy shoot can carry as many prep days as shoot days, so confirm prep terms before you lock a key grip.

How do I hire a key grip in LA fast? Post your project on NeedaCrew with your budget, your rig, and your shoot dates. You get matched with verified, available key grips in Los Angeles, so you are choosing from crew who are actually free when you need them. Key grips can join here to get found.