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Film & TV Production Technician

Production technician is an umbrella term rather than one regulated job. Roles vary by department — lighting, sound, camera, video and more — and each does different work. People enter through apprenticeships, education, trainee schemes or direct industry experience.

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Entry level
£20k – £25k (trainee / runner level)
Mid-career (typical)
£20k – £45k (varies widely; much work is freelance)
Senior / lead
£40k – £60k+ (experienced heads of department; freelance day rates vary)
What you'll do

A day in the life

  • Set up cameras, lighting or sound equipment
  • Work with crew to plan each shot or scene
  • Troubleshoot technical problems on set
  • Pack down and maintain kit
  • Work long and irregular hours on productions
The path

Your career roadmap

Every milestone from school to senior. Track progress as you complete each stage.

  1. 1

    GCSEs

    education
    Usually 2 years at school; resit courses vary

    Build basic English, maths and digital skills, with creative or technical subjects useful for later production training.

  2. 2

    Level 3 Creative Media / Production

    qualification
    Usually 1–2 years

    Study media production through practical assignments covering areas such as camera, sound, lighting, editing and production planning.

  3. 3

    Practical projects

    experience
    Throughout your course and early career

    Practise camera, lighting, sound or editing on small productions, documenting your contribution and following appropriate safety procedures.

  4. 4

    Portfolio / showreel

    experience
    A few weeks initially; update regularly

    Select relevant work samples, credits and project notes showing your technical contribution, using a showreel where appropriate to the department.

  5. 5

    Work experience

    experience
    Often a few days to several weeks

    Observe or support professional crews through structured placements, shadowing or short entry-level production engagements.

  6. 6

    Runner / trainee technician

    role
    Often several months to 2 years; opportunities vary

    Support production logistics as a runner or assist a technical department as a trainee, learning routines under supervision.

  7. 7

    Junior technician

    role
    Often 1–3 years; progression varies

    Take on defined camera, sound, lighting or post-production tasks under experienced supervision, with job titles varying by department.

  8. 8

    Production technician / specialist

    role
    Ongoing; progression depends on experience and opportunities

    Deliver technical work independently within your department, maintaining equipment, solving production problems and coordinating with other crew members.

What you need

Skills you'll build

Qualifications
  • Creative Industries Production Technician apprenticeship (Level 3) — optional
Certifications
  • ScreenSkills training courses
  • BS7909 event power awareness