Annual Salary
£25,000 to £48,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Performing arts or Games or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Performing arts or Games or go back to all job sectors
Stage managers co-ordinate productions and make sure they run smoothly from rehearsals through to performance.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
0.5% more Stage manager jobs in 2027.
As a stage manager, you could:
You could work in a theatre, at a TV studio, at a film studio or at a music venue.
Your working environment may be physically demanding and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in stage management, or a related subject like:
You can search for approved courses through the Stage Management Association and the Federation of Drama Schools.
You'll usually need:
You could do a college course, for example:
The skills you'll learn on these courses could help when you look for a trainee stage manager job with a theatre or production company.
You may be able to apply for a Creative Industries Production Management Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.
You'll usually need experience in production management, technical theatre or production accounting to do this.
To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:
You may be able to move into stage management after training as an actor. You could also work your way up if you have several years' experience as a:
You'll often need practical backstage experience to apply for courses and training.
You can get relevant experience from:student, amateur and community theatre; working as a casual stagehand in local theatre venues
You can join the Stage Management Association for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You can learn more about becoming a stage manager from the Stage Management Association and Get Into Theatre.
With experience, you could:manage a theatre company; become a theatre producer; move into TV or film production; run your own business providing services to theatres like props or lighting design; become an agent; work as a theatre consultant, using your expertise to advise on the development of performing arts venues
You can find out more about becoming a stage manager from the Stage Management Association and Creative Choices.
You'll need: