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Gaffer

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

Median salary
$88,000/yr
Typical range
$58,000 – $130,000
Education
High school diploma
Time to entry
No degree required — short-term training or on-the-job learning

What a Gaffer does

Serves as the chief lighting technician on a film set, translating the director of photography's creative vision into a precise electrical lighting plan executed by a team of rigging and lighting crew.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a high school diploma. No degree required — short-term training or on-the-job learning.

Estimated cost of that path: No degree cost. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

Related careers

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