Associate Designers play a vital role on Broadway Productions:

It’s past time to formalize their position.

Defining The Role

Assistant designers “assist in the work of the principal designer” at the direction of the principal and associate designer.

Associate Designers have agency to manage, organize, and communicate the design as needed to fulfill the design intention.

Principal Designers and Productions rely on an Associate Designer’s experience, relationships, and judgment to deliver a complete design for a Broadway show.

While an Associate’s role may take many shapes, one thing is clear: it has more scope and responsibility than an Assistant, so it needs to be named explicitly in the contract.

Rate History

Assistants To The Designer gave way
to Assistant Designers.

The Minimum Rate for Assistant Designers has hovered around a Living Wage for a Single Adult in New York for decades. This was sensible when the role, which historically included an element of mentorship, was filled by designers early in their careers who would eventually move on to other roles.

As productions became more complex, the role of Associate Designer was created in addition to an Assistant with increased responsibilities.
This now vital role has never been given a rate.

In the last 20 years, Associate Designers have helped facilitate continuous growth in Production Value but have not been included in the resulting profits.

Associate Designers are specialists who hone skills distinct from Assistant and Principal Designers. The job should be protected as a viable profession. To cultivate and maintain this workforce, rate and contract protections should allow Associate Designers to sustain themselves and their families throughout their careers.

Pink Parity

Associate Designers are the Team Leads for their creative departments similar to their Pink Contract “Head of Department” Kin, but with far fewer protections.

In 2023, Broadway rates were right-sized in the Pink Contract Agreement, and it’s time for Associate Designers to build on those gains and demand pay parity.

USA 829 Agreement

Associate Designers

IATSE Pink Contract

Department Heads

Position Defined in Contract

No

Yes

Weekly Minimum*

$1,968/wk

(Assistant Designer)

$3,200/wk

Overtime*

“Tech Premium”
$66/day for days over 8hr

From Cast on Stage until 3rd Preview (Play) or 10th Preview (Musical)

$533/day for days over 11hr

For All work Before Opening

Turnaround Penalty

None

$100/day for work beginning less than 8hr after previous day

Holidays

New Year’s, MLK Jr., Presidents’, Memorial, Juneteenth, 4th of July, Labor, Election, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas

None

Meal Penalty

$40/hr, for each hour worked after 5hr

$35,
one time after 5hr

Seventh Day

1.5x Day Rate,
any Seventh Day

1.5x Day Rate,
if on a Sunday

*on July 1, 2025

How Do We Do It?

  • Build Community.

    Now

    Talk to fellow associate designers and union members about the challenges that associate designers face and possible solutions to those problems. Discuss the disparity in compensation and protections between associate designers and other department heads on Broadway.

    Build connections and relationships in real life, at work, and on our Discord server. Establish common language and common priorities.

  • Use Our Voice.

    Early 2025

    Our union always seeks member input when setting goals for upcoming contract negotiations. This is our chance to put our priorities on the negotiating table.

    Associate designers and their supporters should attend town hall meetings and complete surveys to declare that it’s time to add the role of associate designer to the contract and establish minimum terms that make it a sustainable career via pay parity with pink contract department heads. When a large coalition of the membership insists on a set of priorities with confidence, the union pursues them.

  • Volunteer.

    Mid 2025

    Associate designers from all disciplines should volunteer to serve on the union negotiation committee. This is where priorities are considered and bargaining proposals are prepared.

    Associate designers must have a seat at that table to advocate for the provisions and protections that we need in order to do our work with dignity and a quality life.

  • Bargain and Vote.

    Late 2025

    With our priorities in mind, our negotiation committee and our business agent will represent us at the bargaining table while they negotiate an updated agreement. Our community’s solidarity will strengthen our union’s negotiating power with the employers. The clarity of our previous work will maximize the chance that we arrive at an acceptable outcome after the bargaining has concluded. 

    The new terms will be shared with union members and ratified by a vote before taking effect.

Let’s continue this discussion as we build support for Associate Designers to have sustainable minimum terms built into a contract.

Connect

Associate Designers and their supporters in the Broadway Community are invited to join a Discord server where we can connect, organize, and discuss a path to a viable profession in parity with other workers who make Broadway shows possible.