Providing clerical support for a television production department is the main duty of TV production coordinators. Also known as TV office production coordinators, these production clerks do anything from setting schedules to tracking materials to help obtain clearance for shooting on location. They may even research and gather materials for the development of new scripts. It all depends on the TV production company what responsibilities fall under their purview.

Salary

In 2012, production clerks earned an average of $45,450 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10 percent of earners made more than $68,680, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $25,630 annually. But none of these figures accounts for industry. Those working exclusively in television earned closer to $40,350 a year.

Location

Among the states, production clerks earned the highest wages in Connecticut, where the average was $51,270 a year. Those in Washington were a close second, at an average of $51,230, while clerks in New York ranked third, averaging $50,660 annually. In California, these administrative professionals earned closer to $49,560. The lowest wages paid were in South Dakota, where the average was just $37,050.

Education

Employers typically seek candidates with at least a high school diploma, notes Allan Taylor and James Robert Parish in the book “Career Opportunities in Television and Cable.” But one to two years of business school is often preferred, as well as one to two years of experience in an office setting. Experience in cable or television is also beneficial.

Outlook

The BLS expects employment for production coordinators to grow by just 7 percent through 2020. This is half the average growth rate for all U.S. occupations, a projected 14 percent. With roughly 1,180 production coordinators working in television, the 7-percent growth works out to the creation of nearly 83 new jobs. Additional openings will develop from coordinators moving into new position or leaving the field.