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Programme researcher, broadcasting/film/video : Salary and conditions

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Case studies

  • The starting salary for researchers varies according to the location and company but researchers with little experience may be able to secure a salary in the region of £22,000 in London, or £18,500 outside the capital; rising with experience.
  • It is becoming increasingly common for a researcher to have to work for minimal payment or for free, before getting a fully paid job.
  • Experienced researchers may earn up to £32,500 in London, or £29,000 outside London.
  • Freelance and short-term contracts are particularly common in this industry and freelance rates vary widely. As a rough guide a freelance researcher could expect to receive a daily rate between £150 and £400 (salary data collected June 2010).
  • Employment is generally precarious. Staff jobs are extremely hard to come by and researchers are generally taken on for specific projects or programmes (often lasting no more than two or three months). In order to secure regular employment, freelancers need to build up a reputation. Large corporations, such as the BBC , employ some researchers on permanent contracts.
  • Unsocial working hours are a common feature and researchers may work up to seven days a week for long periods. Work on live programmes is more predictable.
  • Researchers' work takes place in a variety of settings, ranging from typing in an office to interviewing people in the street. Documentary researchers may sometimes work undercover.
  • The Skillset Employment Census (2009) reveals that there has been a major decline in employment across the board, in every sector except independent production and cinema exhibition.
  • The demographic profile shows that women now only make up 27% of the workforce compared with 38% previously. The percentage of ethnic minorities working in the creative industries has also dropped, from 7.4% to 6.7%.
  • Employment levels have shifted slightly from London, decreasing from 16% to 13%, to North West England which has increased from 6% to 9%. This reflects the relocation of part of the BBC’s workforce to Salford Quays.
  • The work is stressful and demanding and requires a very high level of commitment. The work culture is generally informal but you may feel pressured with tight deadlines to meet.
  • Travel is common and may be overseas depending on the research project.
 
AGCAS
Written by Tara Christopher, AGCAS
Date: 
June 2010
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