For a detailed breakdown of roles and salary expectations, visit the Get Into Theatre website.
Here are a range of early entry positions:
What they do:
Finance Assistants help theatre accountants and production accountants teams keep accurate records of how money is spent on shows, tours, and venue operations.
Salary range: £18,000 – £28,000
Common entry route to role:
- Entry-level finance or admin background (retail cashier, office assistant, or bookkeeper)
- AAT Level 2–3 qualification or equivalent
Career progression opportunities:
→ Finance Manager → Head of Finance
What they do:
Supports production managers, producers or heads of departments with scheduling, paperwork, contracts, and coordination between creative teams or staff.
Salary range: £16,000 – £26,000
Common entry route to role:
- Experience as an admin assistant or office coordinator in any sector
- Good IT, communication, and organisation skills
Career progression opportunities on productions:
→ Assistant Stage Manager → Company Manager → Head of People
What they do:
Builds sets, scenery, and staging used in theatre productions.
Fee range: from apprentice wage to £416 per day
Common entry route to role:
- Carpentry, joinery, or construction background (college course or apprenticeship)
- On-the-job apprenticeship in a theatre or prop workshop
Career progression opportunities:
→ Scenic Carpenter → Head of Workshop → Set Designer / Production Manager
What they do:
Sets up and operates lighting equipment for live performances and rehearsals.
Salary range: A starting salary for a Lighting Technician can be an apprenticeship wage or on a minimum wage zero hour contract. Lighting Technicians on specific tours or productions can earn a weekly fee, with in-house technicians either working as a casual, or receiving a regular salary of around £24-£35k. For more information about Technician rates and jobs, you can join the Association of British Theatre Technicians.
Common entry route to role:
- Electrical installation apprenticeship or event tech experience
- Basic knowledge of DMX, lighting desks, or live event systems
Career progression opportunities:
→ Lighting Operator → Head of Lighting→ Chief Electrician / Technical Director
What they do:
Helps install, test, and operate microphones and sound equipment during shows.
Fee range: £49.61 for a 3 hour show call (based on SOLT/BECTU 2024 rates).
Common entry route to role:
- Background in live sound, music tech, or radio/audio production
- College course or internship in sound engineering
Career progression opportunities:
→ Sound No. 1 → Sound Designer → Head of Sound
What they do:
Prepares, maintains, and organises costumes and assists performers with quick changes.
Fee range: Grade 2 and 3 rates for 2023-2025 as per the SOLT/BECTU Agreement suggests a minimum weekly rate of £661.87 - £717.87. Some venues may have their own pool of casual wardrobe staff to support touring shows, who may be paid a minimum show fee. A Wardrobe Daytime Assistant could be paid £15.23 per hour, with a Dresser being paid £57.10 for a 3 3/4 show fee (based on SOLT/Bectu 2024 rates).
Common entry route to role:
- Retail or fashion experience; sewing or garment-handling skills
- College course in costume, fashion, or textiles helpful
Career progression opportunities:
→ Wardrobe Supervisor → Costume Designer → Head of Wardrobe
What they do:
Greets customers, manages ticket sales, and ensures audiences have a great experience.
Salary range: Pay is typically minimum wage and between £10 - £15 per hour. Often, you will have a minimum show call, which can mean you are paid for at least two hours of your time. For Ushers or a Bar Person, SOLT/BECTU rates for 2024 suggest a minimum show call of 3 3/4 hours at £43.54 or £38.98 if topped up with commission.
Common entry route to role:
- Customer service or hospitality background
- On-the-job training in theatre venues
Career progression opportunities:
→ Duty Manager → Box Office Manager → Theatre Operations Manager
What they do:
Maintains projection, video, and multimedia systems used in modern productions.
Fee range: £115-£310 per day
Common entry route to role:
- IT, computing, or media tech background
- Experience with networking, projection, or live AV systems
Career progression opportunities:
→ Video Designer → Technical Director
What they do:
Moves scenery, props, and equipment during rehearsals and shows.
Salary range: Grade 5 or 6 rates for 2023-2025 as per the SOLT/BECTU Agreement suggests a minimum weekly rate of £557.48- £609.46. This would be for a 40 hour week. Backstage Crew can also be on casual contracts with a venue that are paid hourly, usually with a minimum call and breaks built in.
Common entry route to role:
- Event crew, warehouse, or logistics background
- Training in manual handling and backstage safety
Career progression opportunities:
→ Stage Technician → Stage Manager → Production Manager
There are many roles in theatre that don’t require any qualifications, where you can work your way up. However, if you are pursuing a career in theatre that requires a certain level of skill or safety qualifications – such as working with electrics or at height – this might mean you need qualifications, although not necessarily at degree level.
Take a look at the Careers in theatre blog for a full list of all jobs that are available in theatre.
Here are some examples of roles in theatre that you can go straight into without a degree. You can use these as a starting point to gain that vital experience for you to pursue your chosen career.
Entry level roles in the creative team:
You can start yourself up straight away as a freelance Writer, Director or Performer and can approach small scale/fringe theatres to gain and build up your experience. This can then lead to further work or open up your opportunities to approach larger scale theatres or productions.
Alternatively, there can be opportunities to be an assistant for these roles. This will also give you great experience and also the chance to work alongside other professionals and learn from them.
Entry level roles in the production team:
Starting as Stage Crew is great experience to gain knowledge and understanding of backstage roles to pursue a career in stage management, lighting or sound.
To pursue a career in the wardrobe department you can look at becoming a Wardrobe Assistant, Dresser or Wigs Hair and Make-up Assistant.
Entry-level roles in the customer service team:
Front of house, Ushers and Box Office Assistants are perfect roles at entry level. You’ll gain strong experience in customer service for you to pursue a career in this side of the theatre.
Sometimes Writers, Directors and Performers take on these roles as work in between their contracts.
Entry-level roles in the administration team:
Starting off in an Assistant or administration role for these departments will allow you to work alongside managers and give you the experience in an office environment to pursue those careers further.