GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Movie Industry Statistics

The film industry workforce is large but still working toward greater diversity and inclusion.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Average salary for production assistants: $48,000 annually

Statistic 2

Top directors earn median $1.2 million per film

Statistic 3

Gender pay gap in acting: women earn 82% of male counterparts

Statistic 4

Benefits coverage: 88% of union film workers have health insurance

Statistic 5

Average VFX artist salary: $95,000

Statistic 6

Executive producer bonuses average 15% of backend profits

Statistic 7

Pension contributions: 18% of payroll for IATSE members

Statistic 8

Overtime pay rates: 1.5x standard for 72% of crew roles

Statistic 9

Equity stakes offered to 35% of key creative hires

Statistic 10

Remote work stipends average $500/month for writers

Statistic 11

HR bonus structures tied to diversity goals in 65% of studios

Statistic 12

Median actor salary: $52,000 per year

Statistic 13

Stunt coordinator average pay: $110,000

Statistic 14

401k matching: 6% average for full-time staff

Statistic 15

Pay equity audits conducted by 78% of studios annually

Statistic 16

Location bonuses for remote shoots: $2,000/week

Statistic 17

Script supervisor salary: $65,000 median

Statistic 18

Residuals reform increased writer pay by 10%

Statistic 19

Mental health benefits: covered for 82% employees

Statistic 20

Producer points average 5% of gross profits

Statistic 21

Overtime caps negotiated in 90% union contracts

Statistic 22

HR managers in film earn $145,000 average

Statistic 23

Asian employees hold 4% of senior roles in major studios

Statistic 24

Black actors cast in lead roles increased from 10% in 2019 to 18% in 2022

Statistic 25

Women directors directed only 16% of top-grossing films in 2022

Statistic 26

LGBTQ+ representation in on-screen roles rose to 12% in 2023 films

Statistic 27

People with disabilities hold less than 2% of film production jobs

Statistic 28

Native American actors appeared in under 1% of major films in 2022

Statistic 29

73% of DGA directors are white males

Statistic 30

Women of color directed 7% of top 100 films in 2022

Statistic 31

Transgender employees in Hollywood studios: less than 0.5%

Statistic 32

29% increase in BIPOC hires in post-production since 2020

Statistic 33

White employees still 68% of overall film workforce

Statistic 34

Female VFX artists: 22% of total in 2022

Statistic 35

HR diversity training programs adopted by 85% of major studios

Statistic 36

11% of speaking roles for people with disabilities in 2022 films

Statistic 37

Middle Eastern/North African actors: 1.2% leads

Statistic 38

Non-binary staff: 1.5% in creative departments

Statistic 39

Black women directors: 4% of streaming originals

Statistic 40

Indigenous crew hires up 12% via inclusion initiatives

Statistic 41

62% of writers rooms now have 30%+ women

Statistic 42

AAPI executives: 6% in top studio positions

Statistic 43

Latinx producers: 11% of independent films

Statistic 44

2SLGBTQ+ directors: 5% of festival selections

Statistic 45

Disability inclusion score average: 4.8/10 studios

Statistic 46

ERG participation: 45% of employees in major studios

Statistic 47

67% white directors in top films despite 40% non-white US pop

Statistic 48

Entry-level hiring of underrepresented groups up 25% post-2020

Statistic 49

60% of studios use AI in recruitment screening for film jobs

Statistic 50

Average time to hire for grip/electric roles: 45 days

Statistic 51

40% of casting directors prioritize diversity quotas

Statistic 52

Remote hiring for writers increased by 35% since pandemic

Statistic 53

75% of major studios have blind audition processes for actors

Statistic 54

Cost per hire in film production averages $4,200

Statistic 55

Internships leading to full-time roles: 28% conversion rate

Statistic 56

52% of hires via employee referrals in Hollywood

Statistic 57

Diversity job fairs attended by 90% of studios annually

Statistic 58

Background checks standard for 95% of above-the-line hires

Statistic 59

Gig economy platforms source 22% of crew hires

Statistic 60

Online applicant tracking systems used by 82% studios

Statistic 61

Time-to-fill for directors: 90 days average

Statistic 62

48% of hires from HBCUs for diverse talent

Statistic 63

Virtual interviews: 70% standard post-2020

Statistic 64

Offer acceptance rate: 78% for competitive roles

Statistic 65

Skills assessments in 55% of technical hires

Statistic 66

Union hiring halls source 65% of crew

Statistic 67

DEI screening in resumes: 92% of large studios

Statistic 68

Cost of bad hires: $25k average in production

Statistic 69

Campus recruiting yields 15% of junior hires

Statistic 70

Annual turnover rate in film production: 24%

Statistic 71

Freelancer retention strategies implemented by 70% of studios

Statistic 72

Employee satisfaction score average: 7.2/10 in surveys

Statistic 73

Voluntary turnover for women: 18% higher than men

Statistic 74

Mentorship programs reduce turnover by 15%

Statistic 75

Burnout cited in 42% of film worker exits

Statistic 76

Retention bonus payouts up 30% post-strikes

Statistic 77

Average tenure for grips: 4.2 years

Statistic 78

Exit interviews show 55% leave for better pay

Statistic 79

Hybrid work models improve retention by 22%

Statistic 80

Turnover rate for executives: 12% yearly

Statistic 81

Flexible scheduling retains 28% more crew

Statistic 82

35% of exits due to work-life imbalance

Statistic 83

Alumni networks rehire 40% of former staff

Statistic 84

Wellness programs cut turnover 18%

Statistic 85

Average tenure for actors' agents: 6 years

Statistic 86

Post-strike retention incentives: 25% uptake

Statistic 87

Satisfaction with DEI efforts: 68%

Statistic 88

Remote options retain 19% more VFX talent

Statistic 89

Exit rate for PAs: 32% after first year

Statistic 90

In 2022, the film and video industry employed approximately 2.6 million people in the US

Statistic 91

Women make up 44% of the overall workforce in the motion picture and video industries

Statistic 92

The average age of employees in Hollywood's production sector is 42 years old

Statistic 93

28% of film industry workers are over the age of 50

Statistic 94

Entry-level positions in the movie industry have grown by 15% since 2019

Statistic 95

The film industry workforce in California represents 40% of national total

Statistic 96

Freelance workers constitute 36% of the motion picture workforce

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Union membership covers 62% of film production employees

Statistic 98

The number of HR professionals in entertainment firms increased by 12% from 2020-2022

Statistic 99

18-24 year olds represent only 12% of the film industry workforce

Statistic 100

51% of film executives are male aged 50+

Statistic 101

Hispanic/Latino workers are 19% of below-the-line film jobs

Statistic 102

In 2023, 55% of film jobs were held by men

Statistic 103

Millennials comprise 38% of the movie industry workforce

Statistic 104

New York film workforce: 450,000 strong

Statistic 105

Gen Z entry into industry: up 20% since 2021

Statistic 106

HR staff turnover in studios: 14% annually

Statistic 107

Disabled workers: 3.1% of total film employees

Statistic 108

Pacific Islander representation: 0.8% workforce share

Statistic 109

Multi-racial employees: 5% in production roles

Statistic 110

Veteran hires in film: 2.5% of workforce

Statistic 111

25-34 age group: 32% of crew positions

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Behind the glittering premieres and box office numbers lies a workforce of 2.6 million people, a complex ecosystem where a 12% surge in HR professionals is now tackling Hollywood's stark realities, from a 44% female workforce fighting for directing roles to a freelance-heavy landscape where only 18% of entry-level workers are under 24.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, the film and video industry employed approximately 2.6 million people in the US
Women make up 44% of the overall workforce in the motion picture and video industries
The average age of employees in Hollywood's production sector is 42 years old
Asian employees hold 4% of senior roles in major studios
Black actors cast in lead roles increased from 10% in 2019 to 18% in 2022
Women directors directed only 16% of top-grossing films in 2022
Entry-level hiring of underrepresented groups up 25% post-2020
60% of studios use AI in recruitment screening for film jobs
Average time to hire for grip/electric roles: 45 days
Average salary for production assistants: $48,000 annually
Top directors earn median $1.2 million per film
Gender pay gap in acting: women earn 82% of male counterparts
Annual turnover rate in film production: 24%
Freelancer retention strategies implemented by 70% of studios
Employee satisfaction score average: 7.2/10 in surveys

The film industry workforce is large but still working toward greater diversity and inclusion.

Compensation Data

Average salary for production assistants: $48,000 annually
Top directors earn median $1.2 million per film
Gender pay gap in acting: women earn 82% of male counterparts
Benefits coverage: 88% of union film workers have health insurance
Average VFX artist salary: $95,000
Executive producer bonuses average 15% of backend profits
Pension contributions: 18% of payroll for IATSE members
Overtime pay rates: 1.5x standard for 72% of crew roles
Equity stakes offered to 35% of key creative hires
Remote work stipends average $500/month for writers
HR bonus structures tied to diversity goals in 65% of studios
Median actor salary: $52,000 per year
Stunt coordinator average pay: $110,000
401k matching: 6% average for full-time staff
Pay equity audits conducted by 78% of studios annually
Location bonuses for remote shoots: $2,000/week
Script supervisor salary: $65,000 median
Residuals reform increased writer pay by 10%
Mental health benefits: covered for 82% employees
Producer points average 5% of gross profits
Overtime caps negotiated in 90% union contracts
HR managers in film earn $145,000 average

Compensation Data Interpretation

The film industry’s payroll reads like a blockbuster script: a thrilling opening of modest entry-level salaries gives way to a dramatic middle act of staggering directorial paydays, punctuated by a subplot of persistent gender gaps, all while the credits promise a sequel where union benefits are the real heroes and equity stakes the coveted prize.

Diversity Statistics

Asian employees hold 4% of senior roles in major studios
Black actors cast in lead roles increased from 10% in 2019 to 18% in 2022
Women directors directed only 16% of top-grossing films in 2022
LGBTQ+ representation in on-screen roles rose to 12% in 2023 films
People with disabilities hold less than 2% of film production jobs
Native American actors appeared in under 1% of major films in 2022
73% of DGA directors are white males
Women of color directed 7% of top 100 films in 2022
Transgender employees in Hollywood studios: less than 0.5%
29% increase in BIPOC hires in post-production since 2020
White employees still 68% of overall film workforce
Female VFX artists: 22% of total in 2022
HR diversity training programs adopted by 85% of major studios
11% of speaking roles for people with disabilities in 2022 films
Middle Eastern/North African actors: 1.2% leads
Non-binary staff: 1.5% in creative departments
Black women directors: 4% of streaming originals
Indigenous crew hires up 12% via inclusion initiatives
62% of writers rooms now have 30%+ women
AAPI executives: 6% in top studio positions
Latinx producers: 11% of independent films
2SLGBTQ+ directors: 5% of festival selections
Disability inclusion score average: 4.8/10 studios
ERG participation: 45% of employees in major studios
67% white directors in top films despite 40% non-white US pop

Diversity Statistics Interpretation

Hollywood's diversity dashboard reads like a streaming service with a great homepage but still buffering on nearly every click, proving that the industry's commitment to inclusion is still stuck in pre-production.

Hiring Practices

Entry-level hiring of underrepresented groups up 25% post-2020
60% of studios use AI in recruitment screening for film jobs
Average time to hire for grip/electric roles: 45 days
40% of casting directors prioritize diversity quotas
Remote hiring for writers increased by 35% since pandemic
75% of major studios have blind audition processes for actors
Cost per hire in film production averages $4,200
Internships leading to full-time roles: 28% conversion rate
52% of hires via employee referrals in Hollywood
Diversity job fairs attended by 90% of studios annually
Background checks standard for 95% of above-the-line hires
Gig economy platforms source 22% of crew hires
Online applicant tracking systems used by 82% studios
Time-to-fill for directors: 90 days average
48% of hires from HBCUs for diverse talent
Virtual interviews: 70% standard post-2020
Offer acceptance rate: 78% for competitive roles
Skills assessments in 55% of technical hires
Union hiring halls source 65% of crew
DEI screening in resumes: 92% of large studios
Cost of bad hires: $25k average in production
Campus recruiting yields 15% of junior hires

Hiring Practices Interpretation

Hollywood’s hiring process is now an awkward dance between robots reading resumes for efficiency and very human-led soul-searching for inclusion.

Retention and Turnover

Annual turnover rate in film production: 24%
Freelancer retention strategies implemented by 70% of studios
Employee satisfaction score average: 7.2/10 in surveys
Voluntary turnover for women: 18% higher than men
Mentorship programs reduce turnover by 15%
Burnout cited in 42% of film worker exits
Retention bonus payouts up 30% post-strikes
Average tenure for grips: 4.2 years
Exit interviews show 55% leave for better pay
Hybrid work models improve retention by 22%
Turnover rate for executives: 12% yearly
Flexible scheduling retains 28% more crew
35% of exits due to work-life imbalance
Alumni networks rehire 40% of former staff
Wellness programs cut turnover 18%
Average tenure for actors' agents: 6 years
Post-strike retention incentives: 25% uptake
Satisfaction with DEI efforts: 68%
Remote options retain 19% more VFX talent
Exit rate for PAs: 32% after first year

Retention and Turnover Interpretation

The film industry's frantic churn of talent reveals a simple but costly plot hole: studios are desperately throwing bonuses and flexible hours at a bleeding wound, while consistently undercutting the script with burnout, pay gaps, and a stubborn disregard for work-life balance that the best retention bonus can't rewrite.

Workforce Demographics

In 2022, the film and video industry employed approximately 2.6 million people in the US
Women make up 44% of the overall workforce in the motion picture and video industries
The average age of employees in Hollywood's production sector is 42 years old
28% of film industry workers are over the age of 50
Entry-level positions in the movie industry have grown by 15% since 2019
The film industry workforce in California represents 40% of national total
Freelance workers constitute 36% of the motion picture workforce
Union membership covers 62% of film production employees
The number of HR professionals in entertainment firms increased by 12% from 2020-2022
18-24 year olds represent only 12% of the film industry workforce
51% of film executives are male aged 50+
Hispanic/Latino workers are 19% of below-the-line film jobs
In 2023, 55% of film jobs were held by men
Millennials comprise 38% of the movie industry workforce
New York film workforce: 450,000 strong
Gen Z entry into industry: up 20% since 2021
HR staff turnover in studios: 14% annually
Disabled workers: 3.1% of total film employees
Pacific Islander representation: 0.8% workforce share
Multi-racial employees: 5% in production roles
Veteran hires in film: 2.5% of workforce
25-34 age group: 32% of crew positions

Workforce Demographics Interpretation

Hollywood's HR picture shows an industry with a silver-haired leadership still holding the megaphone, while below-the-line it's a dynamic, aging, and increasingly freelance-dependent workforce that is slowly diversifying, cautiously inviting youth, and desperately needing more HR professionals just to manage its own complex evolution.

Sources & References

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