How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Gaffer in Florida?
The most common question I get from producers who haven't worked with a gaffer before is some version of: "What does this actually cost?" And usually it comes right after they've spent twenty minutes Googling and getting zero concrete answers.
So here's the version of that answer I'd give you on the phone.
What Determines a Gaffer's Day Rate?
A gaffer's rate isn't a fixed number — it shifts based on a handful of real variables, and it's worth understanding them before you start getting quotes.
Experience and market. A gaffer with ten years of commercial credits in Los Angeles is going to cost more than someone two years in and working their way up in a mid-size market. Florida is a working production market, but rates here run roughly 15–25% below what you'd pay in LA or New York for comparable experience.
Scope of the job. A one-camera interview setup in a corporate office is a different job than a two-day multi-location commercial with a full electric crew and a generator hookup. The bigger the lighting build, the more the rate reflects that responsibility.
Union vs. non-union. IATSE union rates set a floor — and on a true union shoot, you're not negotiating much. On a non-union commercial or branded content project, rates are negotiated directly between the producer and the gaffer.
Gear. A lot of gaffers quote labor only and gear separately. That matters when you're comparing quotes — make sure you know what's included.
Typical Gaffer Day Rates in Florida
Real numbers, because "it depends" doesn't help you build a budget.
| Tier | Day Rate (Labor Only) |
|------|-----------------------|
| Union floor (IATSE, 10-hour day) | $325–$450 |
| Non-union, newer / lower-budget | $350–$550 |
| Non-union, mid-level commercial | $550–$800 |
| Experienced commercial gaffer (Florida market) | $600–$900 |
| High-end / major commercial, top of market | $1,000–$1,500+ |
These are labor-only rates. Gear is almost always a separate line item.
For most commercial shoots — branded content, broadcast spots, corporate — you're hiring in that $600–$900 range for someone with real credits and the experience to run your electric department without needing hand-holding.
My own rate sits in that range: $600–$900/day for labor, depending on the project scope and shoot length. A full 10-hour commercial day at a complex location is on the higher end. A shorter corporate shoot or a simpler half-day build scales down.
What's Included in a Gaffer's Rate — and What's Not
When you hire a gaffer at the labor rate, here's what that covers:
- Pre-production. Reading your brief, planning the lighting approach, participating in tech scouts, figuring out power requirements before shoot day.
- On-set labor. Running the electric department, directing the best boy and any additional electrics, making lighting adjustments throughout the day.
- Problem-solving. The sun moved. The director changed the blocking. The location doesn't have the power circuit we planned around. A good gaffer handles this without it becoming your problem.
What's not in the base rate:
- Gear/equipment. Quoted separately (see below).
- Electric crew. Your best boy electric and any additional juicers are their own budget lines.
- Travel. Most gaffers working in Florida charge mileage or a travel day for locations significantly outside their base. I'm in the Orlando area — anything past about 50 miles gets a mileage add-on, and out-of-market overnights get a travel day.
- Generator rental. If your location needs a genny, that's sourced from a rental house and passed through at cost.
How Gear Rental Factors In
Most working gaffers own a kit — a selection of professional LED fixtures, stands, diffusion, and cable. Whether they bring it themselves or pull from a rental house depends on the project.
When I bring my own kit, I charge for it as a separate gear package. A working LED package (two to four fixtures — SkyPanels, Aputure 600d Pro, Kino Flos — plus stands, diffusion, and cable) starts around $400/day. Larger builds with additional units or specialty gear are quoted per project.
If the production needs something I don't carry — large HMI units, specialty grip, a generator — I'll source it from a rental house and include that in my overall package quote, or you can pull it directly. Either way, I'll tell you exactly what you need and why.
One thing to ask any gaffer you're quoting: Is gear separate, or is it included? A $500/day rate that includes a four-fixture kit is a different deal than a $500/day labor rate that doesn't come with anything.
Getting a Quote for Your Florida Production
If you're in early budget-building mode, use the ranges above as a starting point. Once you have the basic parameters — shoot dates, location, type of production, and a rough sense of the lighting scope — you can get a real number quickly.
For my own availability and rates, the best thing to do is reach out directly through the contact form on this site or email me at tyler@tylerwilliamsdp.com. Give me the shoot dates, location, and whatever brief you've got, and I'll come back with a real quote within 24 hours — not a range, an actual number for your project.
If you're still figuring out what crew you need, my post on [what a gaffer does on a film set](https://www.tylerwilliamsdp.com/blog/what-does-a-gaffer-do-a-working-gaffer-explains-the-job-and-how-to-hire-one) will help you understand the role before you start budgeting for it. And if you're specifically looking for a gaffer available in Orlando or Tampa, [here's more about working with me in Florida](https://www.tylerwilliamsdp.com/blog/gaffer-for-hire-orlando-central-florida).
---
Tyler Williams is a Gaffer and Director of Photography based in Central Florida with credits on Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Paramount. Available for commercial, branded content, and narrative work statewide.