These
are the
minimum rates
in the Local 839 contract, calculated for the
standard forty-hour week.
Anyone working under our union's jurisdiction has the unrestricted right
to negotiate rates of pay above these minimums; in fact, we estimate that
the great majority of people employed at Local 839 shops make more than
these minimums. We have compiled a survey of the
"going rates",
i.e. what union members are actually paid.
NOTE: A majority of artists and technicians working under Local 839 jurisdiction use computers to some extent in their work. Most of them are categorized under their equivalent artistic or technical category, rather than in a job classification exclusive to their use of the computer as a tool of the trade.
Thus, for example, a majority of CGI animators work under the animator rate, digital painters/opaquers under the painter rate, etc.
Some examples of unique CGI categories and minimums are noted below. Many of the following have been negotiated in sideletters with individual employers, as noted.
Local 839 is engaged in an ongoing effort to organize CGI categories at union and non-union shops. The fact that your job title or category is not explicitly listed on this page does not mean you are not under Local 839's jurisdiction. Contact us if you have any questions.
ANIMATION | ||
| KEY RATE | $1,391.09 | |
| Production Board (see also unit rates below) | ||
1st 6 months |
$1,308.19 | |
2nd 6 months |
$1,339.11 | |
Journeyman |
$1,391.09 | |
| --- | ||
| 21-012...Animator 21-032...Background 21-042...Layout 21-052...Model Designer 21-022...Animation Story Person (see also unit rates below) 21-801...Staff Comic Strip Story Person and/or Artist Visual Development | ||
1st 6 months |
$28.439 |
$1,137.56 |
2nd 6 months |
$29.111 |
$1,164.44 |
Journeyman |
$30.241 |
$1,209.64 |
(Subject
to right of Producer to request extension - | ||
| --- | ||
| 21-112...Key
Assistant Animator |
$28.933 |
$1,157.32 |
| --- | ||
| 21-102...Assistant
Animator 21-122...Assistant Background/Assistant Layout 21-132...Assistant Model Designer 21-802...Assistant Staff Comic Strip Story Person and/or Artist | ||
1st 6 months |
$23.920 |
$956.80 |
2nd 6 months |
$24.541 |
$981.64 |
Journeyman |
$25.718 |
$1,028.72 |
(Subject
to right of Producer to request extension -- | ||
| --- | ||
| 21-142...Breakdown | ||
1st year |
$21.823 |
$872.92 |
Journeyman |
$22.458 |
$898.32 |
| --- | ||
| 21-152...Inbetweener | ||
1st 6 months |
$20.156 |
$806.24 |
2nd 6 months |
$20.772 |
$830.88 |
Journeyman |
$21.571 |
$862.84 |
| --- | ||
| 21-202...Apprentice
Layout, Model Designer, Background and Production Board | ||
6 months |
$21.798 |
$871.92 |
(Subject to right of Producer to request one six-month extension) | ||
| --- | ||
| 21-232...Blue Sketch | ||
1st year |
$21.361 |
$854.44 |
Journeyman |
$22.006 |
$880.24 |
| --- | ||
| 21-312...Story Sketch | ||
1st year |
$26.636 |
$1,065.44 |
Journeyman |
$27.062 |
$1,082.48 |
| --- | ||
| 21-322...Apprentice
Animation Story Person and/or Apprentice Story Sketch | ||
1st year |
$21.858 |
$874.32 |
Journeyman |
$25.326 |
$1,013.04 |
(Subject
to right of Producer to request extension -- | ||
| --- | ||
| 21-332...Assistant Director | ||
1st 6 months |
$22.761 |
$910.44 |
2nd 6 months |
$24.926 |
$997.04 |
3rd 6 months |
$27.095 |
$1,083.80 |
Journeyman |
$28.354 |
$1,134.16 |
| --- | ||
| 21-335...Sheet Timer | ||
1st 6 months |
$22.761 |
$910.44 |
2nd 6 months |
$24.926 |
$997.04 |
3rd 6 months |
$27.095 |
$1,083.80 |
Journeyman |
$28.354 |
$1,134.16 |
| --- | ||
| 21-242...Scene Planner | ||
1st year |
$25.650 |
$1,026.00 |
Journeyman |
$26.761 |
$1,070.44 |
| --- | ||
| 21-252...Animation Checker | ||
1st 3 months |
$21.361 |
$854.44 |
Next 9 months |
$22.006 |
$880.24 |
Next 6 months |
$23.920 |
$956.80 |
Next 6 months |
$24.590 |
$983.60 |
Journeyman |
$25.718 |
$1,028.72 |
INK
AND PAINT (Inking, Special Effects,
| ||
| 21-412...Assistant
Supervisor (Ink and Paint, Xerox, Color Model or Paint Lab | ||
1st 6 months |
$21.910 |
$876.40 |
2nd 6 months |
$22.476 |
$899.04 |
Journeyman |
$23.268 |
$930.72 |
| --- | ||
| 21-422...Inker | ||
1st month |
$18.916 |
$756.64 |
Next 6 months |
$20.004 |
$800.16 |
Next 6 months |
$20.582 |
$823.28 |
Journeyman |
$21.343 |
$853.72 |
| --- | ||
| 21-442...Ink Checker | ||
1st year |
$21.691 |
$867.64 |
Journeyman |
$22.107 |
$884.28 |
| --- | ||
| 21-452...Special Effects | ||
1st year |
$21.691 |
$867.64 |
Journeyman |
$22.107 |
$884.28 |
| --- | ||
| 21-453...Head
Special Effects |
$22.761 |
$910.44 |
| --- | ||
| 21-500...Color Modelist | ||
1st 6 months |
$20.807 |
$832.28 |
2nd 6 months |
$21.391 |
$855.64 |
Journeyman |
$22.222 |
$888.88 |
| 21-501...Color Stylist | ||
1st 3 months |
$21.361 |
$854.44 |
Next 9 months |
$22.006 |
$880.24 |
Next 6 months |
$23.920 |
$956.80 |
Next 6 months |
$24.590 |
$983.60 |
Journeyman |
$25.718 |
$1,028.72 |
| 21-522...Painter | ||
1st month |
$18.916 |
$756.64 |
Next 6 months |
$19.705 |
$788.20 |
Next 6 months |
$20.307 |
$812.28 |
Journeyman |
$21.179 |
$847.16 |
| 21-542...Xerox Processor | ||
1st 3 months |
$18.916 |
$756.64 |
2nd 12 months |
$20.674 |
$826.96 |
Journeyman |
$21.179 |
$847.16 |
| --- | ||
| 21-552...Key Xerox Processor | $21.460 |
$858.40 |
CHECKERS | ||
| 21-562...Xerox Checker | ||
1st year |
$21.691 |
$867.64 |
Journeyman |
$22.107 |
$884.28 |
| --- | ||
| 21-572...Animation Stock Librarian | ||
1st 6 months |
$20.697 |
$827.88 |
2nd 6 months |
$21.249 |
$849.96 |
Journeyman |
$22.107 |
$884.28 |
| --- | ||
| 21-632...Production Final Checker/Mark-Up | ||
1st 6 months |
$20.697 |
$827.88 |
2nd 6 months |
$21.249 |
$849.96 |
Journeyman |
$22.107 |
$884.28 |
| --- | ||
| 21-633...Head
Final Checker |
$22.761 |
$910.44 |
| --- | ||
| 21-652...Paint Checker | ||
1st 6 months |
$20.156 |
$806.24 |
2nd 6 months |
$20.772 |
$830.88 |
Journeyman |
$21.571 |
$862.84 |
| --- | ||
| 21-672...Picture Set-Up | ||
1st year |
$21.361 |
$854.44 |
Journeyman |
$22.075 |
$883.00 |
| --- | ||
| 21-682...Scan Checker | ||
1st 6 months |
$19.606 |
$784.24 |
2nd 6 months |
$20.177 |
$807.08 |
Journeyman |
$20.949 |
$837.96 |
| --- | ||
| 21-692...Cel Service | ||
1st 6 months |
$19.508 |
$780.32 |
2nd 6 months |
$20.046 |
$801.84 |
Journeyman |
$20.721 |
$828.84 |
| --- | ||
| 21-722...Mix and Match | ||
1st year |
$20.408 |
$816.32 |
Journeyman |
$21.262 |
$850.48 |
| --- | ||
| 21-742...Paint Technician | ||
1st year |
$22.130 |
$885.20 |
Journeyman |
$22.937 |
$917.48 |
| --- | ||
| 21-792...Letter Artist | ||
1st 6 months |
$23.920 |
$956.80 |
2nd 6 months |
$24.541 |
$981.64 |
Journeyman |
$25.718 |
$1,028.72 |
| --- | ||
| 21-222...Trainee | ||
1st 6 months |
$19.193 |
$767.72 |
2nd 6 months |
$20.162 |
$806.48 |
3rd 6 months |
$21.134 |
$845.36 |
| SHORT SUBJECTS -- 4 to 7 minutes (TV or Theatrical) | ||
| Synopsis and outline | $649.42 |
18 |
| Storyboard only | $900.57 |
25 |
| Story In Script Form | $1,695.29 |
50 |
| SHORT SUBJECTS -- 7 to 11 minutes (TV or Theatrical) | ||
| Synopsis and outline | $658.52 |
19 |
| Storyboard only | $1,090.56 |
30 |
| Story In Script Form | $2,147.85 |
60 |
| HALF-HOUR SUBJECTS (TV or Theatrical) | ||
| Synopsis and outline | $1,106.50 |
35 |
| Storyboard only | $1,956.07 |
62 |
| Story In Script Form | $3,888.33 |
125 |
| ONE HOUR OR MORE SUBJECTS (TV or Theatrical) | ||
| Synopsis and outline | $1,638.64 |
52 |
| Storyboard only | $2,917.61 |
93 |
| Story In Script Form | $5,820.67 |
188 |
| Production
Technical Director I (Disney) Technical Director (DreamWorks) CGI Animator/Modeller I (Disney/DreamWorks) | ||
1st 6 months |
$28.439 |
$1,137.56 |
2nd 6 months |
$29.111 |
$1,164.44 |
Journeyman |
$30.241 |
$1,209.64 |
| --- | ||
| Production
Technical Director II (Disney) Key Assistant Technical Director (Disney) CGI Animator/Modeller II (Disney/DreamWorks) | ||
$28.933 |
$1,157.32 | |
| --- | ||
| Production
Technical Director III (Disney) Assistant Technical Director (Disney) Assistant CGI Animator/Modeller I (Disney/DreamWorks) | ||
1st 6 months |
$23.920 |
$956.80 |
2nd 6 months |
$24.541 |
$981.64 |
Journeyman |
$25.719 |
$1,028.72 |
| --- | ||
| Production
Technical Director IV (Disney) Junior Assistant Technical Director(Disney) Assistant CGI Animator/Modeller II (Disney/DreamWorks) | ||
1st year |
$21.823 |
$872.92 |
Journeyman |
$22.458 |
$898.32 |
| --- | ||
| Production
Technical Director V (Disney) Apprentice Technical Director (Disney) Assistant CGI Animator/Modeller III (Disney/DreamWorks) | ||
1st 6 months |
$20.156 |
$806.24 |
2nd 6 months |
$20.772 |
$830.88 |
Journeyman |
$21.571 |
$862.84 |
| --- | ||
| Digital Scene Planning (DreamWorks) | ||
1st year |
$25.650 |
$1,026.00 |
Journeyman |
$26.761 |
$1,070.44 |
| Scan Checker -- see above | ||
| --- | ||
| Digital Check (DreamWorks) | ||
1st 3 months |
$21.361 |
$854.44 |
Next 9 months |
$22.006 |
$880.24 |
Next 6 months |
$23.920 |
$956.80 |
Next 6 months |
$24.590 |
$983.60 |
Journeyman |
$25.718 |
$1,028.72 |
| --- | ||
| Digital Painters (DreamWorks) | ||
1st month |
$18.916 |
$756.64 |
Next 6 months |
$19.705 |
$788.20 |
Next 6 months |
$20.307 |
$812.28 |
Journeyman |
$21.179 |
$847.16 |