Lucrative Hollywood Jobs You’ve Never Heard Of

Responsibilities: Building and maintaining camera equipment
Est. Salary: $50,000-$75,000* 

If you’ve often sat through credits and wondered what a key grip is, then you’re not alone. Despite what some may think, it has nothing to do with keys at all. A grip is a person that is responsible for building and maintaining all of the camera equipment throughout a shoot. 

Key Grip @bryanateal / Pinterest.com

The key grip is the person that is in charge of the whole team, basically making them the head of the department. Every time they set up a Sony camera or have to create an intricate shot, it’s the key grip that’s called in. It’s also their responsibility to make sure it all stays in good working order and doesn’t get damaged. 

Responsibilities: Looking after any babies
Est. Salary: $40,000+*

There’s an old saying in Hollywood – “Never work with children or animals.” Both are notoriously hard to control on long, demanding shoots, which is why there’s a specific job for that. Baby wranglers, or on-set nannies, are specifically hired to take care of small infants while shooting. 

Baby Wrangler @21scummings / Pinterest.com

They make sure the babies are well taken care of, but also try to get them to perform on cue when needed. Some of the most famous child stars in the business, including Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen from Disney’s Full House had their very own wranglers on-set with them. 

Responsibilities: Loading the film, operating the clapperboard
Est. Salary: $11,000-$40,000*

We’ve all seen someone stand there with a clapper board and yell “Action!” but did you know that there’s a very specific job role for this alone? Clapper loaders don’t earn a fortune in the entertainment business, but it’s a good way to start. 

Clapper Loader @Flick / Youtube.com

It’s the clapper loader’s job to make sure the film stock is inserted into the cameras, operating the clapper board, and making sure that all admin related to recording is taken care of. For their trouble, they usually take home a salary between $11,000-$40,000. 

Responsibilities: To stand in for intimate scenes
Est. Salary: $795 per shift*

Stunt doubles are one thing, but what if an actor isn’t comfortable shooting a certain scene that requires them to disrobe? There are more stars out there than you think. If an actor or actress won’t do it, then a double is hired. Quite often, the derriere you’re seeing on screen isn’t actually that of the main star. 

Butt Doubles @ron597 / Pinterest.com

Instead, body doubles are hired to step in. These professionals are usually paid around $795 per shift or the SAG minimum for their work. It’s not a get-rich-quick job, but they could also walk away with some interesting tales to tell on Facebook – if they didn’t sign an NDA!

Responsibilities: To fill empty seats at award shows
Est. Salary: $0*

Huge events like the Oscars are packed to the brim with huge stars, but that doesn’t always mean that every seat is taken. At every major event, there are some empty seats. That’s where seat fillers come in. These people aren’t always paid, and if they are, it’s a minimal amount. 

Seat Fillers @THRmag / Pinterest.com

However, they do get to sit next to some of the biggest stars in the industry. If a seat is empty at any point throughout the show, producers will usher the fillers into it, so the camera doesn’t shoot empty seats. There are strict rules though, like no pestering celebs for a photo for Instagram.

Responsibilities: Making sure explosions and fires happen safely
Est. Salary: $2,000 per shift* 

Action movies are loved by moviegoers, so it’s not surprising that there’s a special job in the entertainment industry to make sure everything goes smoothly. When there are explosions and fires on the set, it’s the job of the pyrotechnician to make sure everyone stays safe. 

Pyrotechnician @ella777111 / Pinterest.com

Controlled explosions are no joke, and if handled improperly can cause serious injury. That’s why these highly-trained individuals get paid around $2,000 per shift, which adds up to a small fortune. Next time you watch a Sony blockbuster, spare a thought for the person lighting the fuse!

Responsibilities: To age costumes
Est. Salary: $35,000* 

Have you ever watched a period movie where the costumes of poor people are dirty and torn? It’s easy to think that they’ve just been bought like that, but most of the time, this isn’t the case. The costumes are purchased or made, before being passed over to the breakdown artist. 

Breakdown Artist ©Anton Vierietin/Shutterstock.com

It’s the breakdown artist’s job to damage and age costumes in a way that looks authentic and real. It’s by no means an easy process as it’s time-consuming, can often go wrong and needs to look good on camera. You can’t buy every costume at Walmart – although it would be easier if you could!

Responsibilities: To look after all the greenery and landscape
Est. Salary: $54,000 per year*

The background of shots can be particularly important when trying to set up a scene or give a location a certain vibe. It’s not just thrown together. Each plant is looked after, lovingly selected, and screen-tested to see if it works. The person responsible for all this is known as the greensperson. 

Greensperson @Georgia Box Office / Youtube.com

Making a studio lot look like Middle Earth or a sprawling countryside garden isn’t easy, but that’s where this person comes in. It’s a great job for people that love nature. What’s more, it can bring in upward of $54,000 a year. You don’t get that working at Home Depot.

Responsibilities: Moving the camera
Est. Salary: $70,000-$250,000*

When it comes to shooting movies, there are plenty of different people that go into it. There are multiple camera operators, cinematographers, and beyond. There’s also one particular job called a focus puller. It’s this person’s job to make sure that the focus is smoothly shifted throughout the shot. 

Focus Puller ©Clemens Pfeiffer / Wikimedia.org

The role is also known as 1st Assistant Cameraman, but focus puller is more of a literal explanation. It’s not an easy job to do by any means as it requires tireless dedication and focus. Thankfully, the salary isn’t half bad so it makes up for it. 

Responsibilities: Looking after all the material on set that isn’t costumes
Est. Salary: $50,000 per year*

The costume department does a stand-up job of making sure every cast member looks great, but what about the on-set materials and drapery? That’s the job of the drapesmaster. It’s this person that takes care of all the material and other fabric on set, from the drapes to the tablecloths.

Drapesmaster @linoum / Pinterest.com

It might sound like a strange job, but each movie set has to be meticulously curated and taken care of. Drapesmasters can earn around $50,000 a year or higher, which isn’t half bad. Next time you watch a Disney movie, see if you can count how many sets of drapes is in it. You’ll be surprised.

Responsibilities: Making sure the food looks good
Est. Salary: $30,000-$40,000 per year*

Keeping food looking good on a hot movie set isn’t as simple as it sounds. This is especially true depending on what kind of food is on offer. Food stylists have to be on hand to make sure that the food looks delicious on-screen and not like it’s been sat out for hours on end. 

Food Stylist @wburnews / Pinterest.com

It’s their job to primp and arrange the food so that it looks appealing to the viewer, and realistic. The actors know it’s not good to eat, but the viewers in the theaters won’t know it. They want us to think it’s a fresh McDonald’s meal or a vibrant banquet, not day-old ham. 

Responsibilities: To choreograph the intimate scenes
Est. Salary: $70,000-$100,000*

One of the most difficult aspects of shooting movies can be the love scenes. While viewers might like seeing the finished article, it’s awkward for the entire cast and crew. The actors need to feel safe and secure when making it seem believable, which is where intimacy coordinators come in. 

Intimacy Coordinator @revistadiezminu / Pinterest.com

The stars of Netflix’s hit show Bridgerton worked closely with an intimacy coordinator to choreograph every single step of the love scenes, from hand movements to rolls and everything in between. Phoebe Dynevor and Rege-Jean Page couldn’t give their coordinator enough credit. 

Responsibilities: Teaching actors how to use a whip
Est. Salary: $50,000 per year* 

It’s no secret that actors require a lot of training in certain movies. Some may not know how to ride a horse or leap from building to building. Other props, like whips, can take a long time to learn how to use. That’s where the bullwhip trainer comes in. 

Bullwhip Trainer @imbecker / Pinterest.com

These individuals are highly trained and able to teach the movie stars how to look impressive with a whip without hurting anyone. Everyone from Michelle Pfieffer to Harrison Ford has worked closely with these professionals in the past to pull off some impressive scenes. 

Responsibilities: Design contact lenses for shoots
Est. Salary: $50,000-$100,000 per year*

Costumes and makeup is one thing, but what if you need to change the appearance of an actor on a deeper level? Contact lenses can make a costume all the more enthralling, changing the entire vibe of someone’s face. There are people out there who make a living by designing contact lenses for this very purpose. 

Contact Lens Designer @Insider / Youtube.com

Whether it’s a pair of alien eyes or simply a new shade or brown or blue, contact lens designers can bring it to life. They’re usually paid quite handsomely for their work, which makes the attention to detail all worthwhile. Some of the designs out there are intense.