Education / Camera Trainee
Written by real camera crew
3 Min Read
Knowing the standard camera trainee rate is essential when you’re early in your career.
Without a clear benchmark:
You may accept jobs that pay far less than they should
You won’t know when a rate is genuinely low-budget versus exploitative
Negotiating pay can feel intimidating or awkward
Even though rates vary depending on production budget, having an industry-recognised baseline gives you leverage and clarity.
These rates shouldn’t be treated as rigid rules, but they are a widely accepted guide across the UK film and TV industry.
This guide breaks down:
Camera trainee day rates and hourly rates
Differences between TV, film, and commercial pay
What affects how much camera trainees get paid
How camera trainees are paid
Whether unpaid camera trainee jobs are worth taking
The rates below are based on 2025 BECTU guidelines. These rates are not legally binding. However, they are widely used across the UK film and TV industry and are a strong guide when discussing pay with production.
TV Drama Camera Trainee Rates
Hourly rate: £17
Overtime: £35 per hour
Day rate 10+1 (10 hours work + 1 hour lunch): £170
Day rate 11+1: £187
Motion Picture (Film) Camera Trainee Rates
Hourly rate: £17
Overtime: £34 per hour
Day rate 10+1: £170
Day rate 11+1: £187
Commercial Camera Trainee Rates (APA)
Hourly rate: £30
Overtime: £45 per hour
Day rate 10+1: £303
If you are unsure about a rate, speak to your 2nd AC before agreeing to the rate.
What affects your day rate?
Location - Location has a slight impact on day rates, with major cities like London and Manchester typically paying higher rates due to the cost of living and the scale of productions based there.
If a production films outside these cities but hires city-based crew, it will often still pay those rates. Smaller regional productions may pay less, especially on lower-budget shoots.
Production Budget - The budget plays a big role in entry-level camera pay. On very low-budget productions, rates may be low or not set at all.
This often applies to short films and non-celebrity music videos.
In many cases on low budget projects, production offers a flat rate. This is often around £100 per day for all crew roles.
While these jobs won’t match industry rates, they’re often treated as learning opportunities rather than paid work.
In the UK, you’re usually paid in one of two ways: PAYE or invoicing.
PAYE (pay as you earn) is most common on long-form productions like TV drama and feature films.
PAYE is simple, reliable, and very common on professional sets.
You complete payroll forms before the job
Tax and National Insurance are deducted automatically
You’re paid directly by production
Invoicing is more common on short-form jobs. This includes commercials and music videos.
When you invoice:
You send an invoice to production
You handle your own tax
You are usually registered as self-employed
Short answer: yes, sometimes.
If you’re new to the industry, unpaid work can be valuable for:
Gaining on-set experience
Understanding how the camera department operates
Building contacts and references
Getting your first few credits
Almost everyone working in camera started with at least some unpaid or very low-paid work.
However, there’s an important distinction to make.
Low-budget productions offering unpaid work are common and often genuine
Well-funded productions that underpay trainees should be avoided where possible
If too many people accept low pay on high-budget jobs, industry rates can be pushed down over time.
In the end, the choice is yours. It depends on your experience, your finances, and your goals. On most unpaid or low-paid jobs, expenses are covered, so you are not left out of pocket.
