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Author
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Topic: average projectionist pay
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Kelsey Black
Film Handler
Posts: 58
From: Pima, Arizona, USA
Registered: Aug 1999
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posted 09-07-1999 11:23 AM
I work for an independent, family-run 2 screen in Arizona, and over the course of our 1 1/2 year management, I have worked my pay up to $7.50/hr. Unfortunately I won't be working here much longer as I am moving out of the nest, up to the SLC area in Utah. I would like to remain in the projection field, but I need to know if I can expect make a living off of this line of work, so my question; How much does the average projectionist get paid? IMHO, I am proficient in tech work, and if projection is not adequate, maybe I should look into this instead.
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Scott Norwood
Film God
Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 09-07-1999 10:41 PM
$7.50 for two screens sounds pretty good compared to what I've heard from others. I was getting paid slightly less than that for a single-screen house (all-manual booth) and I had to do other stuff at the end of the night (boxoffice reports, count and deposit cash, sweep floor, etc.), although I stayed in the booth during the films, of course. This was more of a hobby than a "real" job for me, though, so I wasn't terribly concerned about the pay.
Personally, I'd say that a "reasonable" rate of pay for a good projectionist is probably in the $9-12/hour range, depending on experience. There's no way to keep quality people for any length of time if the theatre pays less than that. I'm thinking in terms of a single-screen operation here, since that's what I'm most familiar with. Obviously, one would expect to get paid more in a multi-screen complex, although I will point out that an all-manual single-screen booth often requires more work than a medium-size multiplex with automation.
If anyone is making over $12/hour in a nonunion booth, I'd be very impressed with the management at that theatre.
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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays
Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted 09-08-1999 08:14 AM
The job of projectionist has been de-professionalized and is no longer a craft. In the 30s, it was a very prestigious position, like being a doctor or lawyer. Today, the job's held in the same regard as the 'would-you-like-fries-with-that' job.In the seventies, I realized that the role of projectionist was on the way out. Therefore, I looked for something that would still keep me involved with the equipment at the level I had previously enjoyed as a professional projectionist. The logical choice was to become a sound man (field service engineer). About 1982, I applied to, and was hired as a sub-contractor, by what was the old Altec Service company. This provided occasional work for the next couple years and was good hands-on training in service. I kept my still-good union job and took off to go do service and emergency calls for Altec when they needed me. A couple years later, they hired me full-time. The pay was (and still is) fantastic and you can make a good living at it. Since the job of projectionist has died-out, there are fewer and fewer skilled people to be hired into the service field. It's an in-demand job. If you're interested in becoming a projection and sound service engineer, learn electronics, first and foremost (not just knowing how to change diodes). There are many good basic books on the subject, home-study courses, and vocational school-training opportunities. When I was hired, they required you to have an Associate Degree in electronics. This is no longer the case, but you DO need a good electronics foundation. This will get you on at one of the national service companies, which are union. The pay, benefits and conditions are best here. You may consider starting as a tech for one of the theatre circuits that have their own service, but they have a tendency to work you to death with no overtime pay. Secondly, to increase your chances of getting hired into service, you must be willing to relocate, and not afraid to TRAVEL. This is the only way I know of being able to make a living in the projection field today. Tim
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Ed Johnson
Film Handler
Posts: 24
From: Lancaster, MA/Appleton, WI
Registered: Jul 99
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posted 09-08-1999 09:15 PM
When I was 16 I worked at a fast food place for one summer and learned two things:1. Working with fast food is disgusting. 2. After finding out how disgusting it is, you never want to eat it again (if you ever liked it in the first place.) Movie theaters can offer free movies as a perk. At current market prices, free movies for employees is of significant value. After working at McDonalds, I doubt any employees are really going to want to have their free Big Macs... I was in Maine over the summer and a Burger King had closed down except for the drive-thru because they couldn't hire enough employees to open the dining room. They were offering something like 12 dollars, too. Personally, I'd take a low paying job at the movies over food prep in a second.
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Brad Miller
Administrator
Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99
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posted 09-09-1999 01:34 AM
George,You want that AW3 more sluggish? Try this one... Set your led card resistance to 25K ohms each deck. Then time your platters to the following specs: 100%=5 3/4 to 6 revolutions per 15 seconds
20%=1/4 to 1/3 revolutions per 15 seconds That'll make 'em nice and smooth. As to projectionist's pay, the best paying jobs are definitely not in the major chains, but in independents which are doing nicely. $9-12 is not uncommon once you get outside the "big boys" theaters. You will also get more respect there, as everyone knows everyone and how hard you work.
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