Ratecards: find out the rates for the work you do
With the exception of rates for our theatre members which are determined by the collective bargaining agreements with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre (formerly the Theatrical Management Association), the information here reflects the recommended going rates set by the relevant freelance branch(es), covering film and independent production, after consultation with members. Bectu also recommends minimum terms and conditions for all those not covered by an agreement.
If you need to access our Grading Schemes and Agreements please click here
Animation and VFX
The Animation and VFX branch’s Freelance Rate Guidance for Film and TV is below.
Animation and VFX branch’s Freelance Ratecard 2022
VFX FREELANCE SHOOT CREW RATE CARD FOR FILM & TV 2022
Art Department
The Art Department branch’s Ratecard is below.
Assistant Directors
Below is the 2022 Rate Card for Assistant Directors working in Feature Film including projects working under the terms of the Major Motion Picture Agreement and independent TV Drama covered under the PACT-BECTU TV Drama Agreement.
Branch Committee Details and Other Information Document
Those working in Continuing Drama or Serials for the BBC should refer to the appropriate rate card on this page; similarly those working in the same area at ITV should refer to their rates documentation.
Those working in Commercials & Promos should follow the current APA Recommended Crew Terms dated July 2022 until such a time as it is amended.
From 6th April onwards, the AD Branch asks that its members negotiate all contracts going forward to include no more than 30 minutes Prep and 30 minutes Wrap each working day and reflect this in their rate. If more is still asked for, this should be appropriately charged.
Assistant Directors’ Unified Ratecard 2022
Essential guide for DGA Directors working in UK with 1st Assistant Directors
ATG Concert Rates
The Bectu/ATG One Night Concert (or Rock and Roll) Rates are used on occasions where a promoter is bringing in a concert for one night only and it is agreed between Bectu and ATG that it is commercially more appropriate to use these rates, which only apply to non permanent, regularly employed or casual technical staff. All permanent technical staff always work to their own in house agreements which have been agreed between Bectu and ATG. Bectu crews must be given advance notice by the employer that a promoter is being allowed to use the one night concert rates and any queries or concerns about a promoter being allowed to use these rates must be raised with the venue Bectu steward as early as possible before the day of the concert.
Bectu/ATG Rock and Roll (Concert) Agreement 2018
BBC Drama: Continuing, Series & Serial
The BBC has an agreement with Bectu which covers the core interests of all freelancers working on BBC productions. The framework agreement was agreed in April 2010. These documents contain information on minimum rates, effective 1 April 2018, for Continuing Drama Series and Series and Serials.
BBC Freelance Rates: Series and Serials (1 April 2018)
BBC Freelance Rates: Continuing Drama Series (1 April 2018)
BBC Scotland freelance rates
These are the rates for freelancers and casuals engaged by BBC Scotland, effective 1 March 2022.
BBC Scotland Freelance/Casual Rates 2022
BBC Studioworks, Kelvin Hall Studios Glasgow – Freelance rates
Camera
These ratecards cover film and TV drama and Factual and Outside Broadcast.
Find out more about the work the branch does at their website.
Camera Branch Ratecard Factual and Outside Broadcast 2022
Camera Branch Ratecard Film and TV Drama 2022
Construction (Major Features)
Pact/Bectu rates for Construction crew on Major Motion Pictures 2023 – 2024, As of 1 April 2023 the agreement shall also apply to a single piece of theatric-type content (i.e., not a series) intended for a global SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) platform with a production budget equal to or in excess of £30,000,000.
Costume
These are the recommended rates of pay for freelancers in costume and wardrobe. The latest rates, published in March 2019, are based on information gathered from members across every level of the film industry. Rates are quoted for all grades – from costume designer through to costume PA – and are divided into film budget bands. Advice is also given on basic and ‘rolled’ up rates as they relate to holiday pay. Bectu recommends that freelancers accept no less than the figures quoted. An updated TV ratecard is being worked on.
Find out more about the work the branch does at their website.
Costume Professionals: Your Rights At Work booklet
Costume Film Rate Card July 2023
Costume TV Rate Card July 2023
FAA (Background Artistes)
The current PACT-FAA rate card for supporting artistes came into force on 1 March 2023 and runs until 31 December 2023. The agreed set of rates covers Standard and Continuous Day and Night calls, Shift calls, Non-Performance calls, meal penalties, fees for supplementary performances and services, and travel allowances.
To access the full FAA-Pact Agreement you will need to be a member and you will need to login to access it. Members can also download the FAA Rates App and rate cards below.
Find out more information on joining Bectu.
Grips
These are the latest ratecards for Grips in film and TV. The film ratecard applies to films with budgets £30m and above, under £30m and less than £10m. The rates for films with budgets £30m and above should be read in conjunction with the new agreement covering major motion pictures introduced on 2 April 2018.
TV Drama/SVOD Grips Branch Ratecard 2023
Grip Department Rates for Film 2022
Remote Head/ Crane Technician daily rates 2020
Hair & Make-Up
This is the rate card for TV Drama and Feature Film for Hair and Make-Up as of March 2023. The rate card for hair and make-up workers supporting the fashion industry (editorial, lookbooks, film, photography, promotion, etc) is also below.
TV Drama and Feature Film Hair and Make-Up Ratecard
Fashion Hair and Make-Up Ratecard
Independent Theatre Producers
Independent Theatre Council Bectu Independent Producers Collective Agreement
Intimacy Coordinators
Intimacy Coordinator Rate Card and Guidance 2022-2024
Locations
These are the recommended going rates for film and TV covering supervising location managers, location managers, assistant location managers, location scouts and location assistants, from micro-budgets to mid-budget productions.
Location Branch – Film and TV drama Rates 2023
London Live Events
London Live Events Rates Guidance – Corporate & Venues 2023
Lighting Technicians
All our ratecard information for all Lighting Technicians (including on Commercials, Feature Films, TV Dramas and more) is available to view on this specialist page.
Outside Broadcast
This is the current ratecard for Outside Broadcast as produced by the Sound Branch. Published January 2023.
Outside Broadcast Sound Rates February 2023
Bectu OB recommended rates and terms April 2023
Post Production
These are the current editor’s ratecards in Feature Film, TV Drama, Factual and Entertainment, Short Form and Post-Sound.
Bectu’s Post Production and Facilities Branch is conducting a rates survey for editors working in feature films, factual TV and TV drama. The branch will use the findings of this survey to update the Bectu ratecards. Bectu wants the survey to become a rolling, continuing resource, so please do revisit the form and fill in your latest rates when starting a new job. Feel free to enter as many jobs as you can remember, going back up to 5 years. Please circulate the survey amongst your colleagues, and encourage anyone working in editorial to complete it. Please note: the survey is anonymous and you are not required to fill in the name of the production or production company, although please add in this information if you feel comfortable doing so.
Post Production & Facilities Branch – Film Ratecard 2023-2024
Factual and Entertainment TV Editors Ratecard 2023-2024
Post Production & Facilities Branch -TV Drama Ratecard 2023-2024
Post Production & Facilities Branch – Short Form Film Ratecard 2023-2024
Post Production & Facilities Branch – Post-Sound ratecard 2022
Production
This is the Bectu Production branch minimum ratecard.
LPD Film and TV Production branch ratecard 2023
Props
These are the recommend rates for Props. These documents also provide some guidance on working hours, overtime, prep/wrap of which more details can be found in either the tv or film agreement docs here.
Props Branch Ratecard – Modellers on Film 2023
Riggers
Bectu Commercials and dailies rate card April 1 2023
Runners
Set Crafts (Carpenters and Scenic Painters)
These are the recommended rates for Carpenters and Scenic Painters working in TV Drama. For Major Motion Picture rates please see the Construction rate card.
Special Effects (SFX)
This is the 2023 SFX Branch Ratecard. It covers workers doing physical and pyrotechnic special effects in Major Motion Pictures and TV Drama. It also includes guidance on rates/hours on a ‘Workshop Day’ and notes on the application of the BECTU agreements to SFX departments.
Society of London Theatres
SOLT Bectu rates August 2022 – October 2023
Bectu/SOLT Buyout calculator June 2023
Sound
This is the current ratecard for Production Sound as produced by the London Production Division Sound Branch. Published June 2023.
Production Sound Rates June 2023
This is the current ratecard for Outside Broadcast as produced by the Sound Branch. Published January 2023.
Outside Broadcast Sound Rates February 2023
Stagehands
Bectu advises all members working as Standby Stagehands to use this Bectu rate card when agreeing pay with productions. These can be negotiated up, but we recommend not accepting work for below these rates. Should you have any queries about the rates or terms and conditions you’ve been offered, please call your Bectu official to discuss before accepting the role.
Standby Stagehands Ratecard 2022
Touring Theatre
Bectu Guide to Good Practice on Touring Productions June 2023
Bectu Touring Theatre Professional Rates Guidance January 2023
Bectu/UK Theatre Buyout Calculator June 2023
Bectu Timesheet Template June 2023
UK Theatre
The collective bargaining agreement between Bectu and UK Theatre covers most commercial theatres outside London. Below are the minimum rates for staff. Please note that the subsistence allowance increased to £140.00 (with effect from 1 April 2017). Also below are the amended touring allowances for staff working on opera and ballet productions from 3 April 2017 and the latest UK Theatre/ Equity /Bectu rates for lighting designers, set and costume designers and resident designers for 2017 – 2018.
These documents are for members only and you will need to login to access them. Find out more information on joining Bectu.
Theatre Freelancers Rates Guidance 2023
UK Theatre/Bectu Rates 2020-2023
UK Theatre/SOLT Opera and Ballet Touring Allowances (2022)
UKT Equity Bectu Designers Rates – Lighting Designers – 2017-2018
UKT Equity Bectu Designers Rates – Set and Costume – 2017-2018
UKT Equity Bectu Designers Rates – Resident Designers – 2017-2018
Unscripted TV
This document, based on research undertaken by The Time Project and bench marked against survey responses from The Freelancer Task Force, outlines rates for those working in editorial and production roles in Unscripted TV.
The guidance below should be used by freelancers to negotiate rates of pay starting at the listed baseline rate and negotiating upward of that figure based on your experience and the demands of the role.
James Taylor, Chair of the UTVU , Statement on the Unscripted TV Rate Guidance
Production Accountants
This is the current Bectu Production Accountants Branch minimum ratecard.
Production Accounts Department TV Drama Ratecard
Unit Drivers
This is the Bectu Production Transport branch minimum rates for Unit Drivers that work in Film and TV (Effective from 1stJanuary 2021).