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Prop Making Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Aquent

Spatial Windows Designer

Campbell, CA · On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

... making a profound impact on high-profile Holiday and Seasonal installations. Your designs will ... Select, source, and test innovative materials, prop elements, kinetic features, lighting setups ...

Weave

Senior Product Marketing Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$155K - $175K/yr

... prop across channels: email, social media, events, website, and more. * Sales Enablement: Equip ... Strong understanding of enterprise buyer journeys and decision-making processes, and the right ...

Figure

Data Strategy Associate

San Jose, CA · On-site

... and prop teams across multiple concurrent deployments • Interface with service teams to align ... making abilities • Excellent communication skills especially using data • Able to work well ...

Supermicro

Director, Compliance (27109)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$197K - $224K/yr

Impact High-Level Decision-Making: Your expertise will influence executive leadership and board ... Ensure compliance with key environmental regulations, including EU RoHS, REACH, TSCA, CA Prop 65 ...

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Prop Making information

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How much do prop making jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for prop making in California is $20.78, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.15 and $23.70 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a prop maker?

A Prop Making job involves designing, building, and finishing objects used in film, theater, television, or events. Prop makers work with various materials like wood, foam, metal, and fabrics to create realistic or stylized props based on production needs. They collaborate closely with designers and directors to ensure the props fit the creative vision and practical requirements. Skilled in sculpting, painting, and crafting, prop makers bring imagination to life on stage and screen.

What does a prop maker do?

A typical day for a prop maker involves designing, constructing, painting, and finishing props according to the production's requirements, often working from technical drawings or creative briefs. Prop makers frequently collaborate with set designers, costume teams, and directors to ensure all props align with the show's vision and are safe for performers to handle. You may also be responsible for repairs or adjustments during rehearsals and live performances. This role is highly collaborative, requiring regular communication and flexibility to adapt to production changes or last-minute requests, making teamwork an essential part of the job.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a prop maker?

To thrive as a Prop Maker, you need strong skills in sculpting, carpentry, painting, and a comprehensive understanding of materials, often supported by vocational training or a degree in art, theater, or design. Familiarity with tools like saws, 3D printers, casting equipment, and software such as CAD is commonly required. Attention to detail, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are important soft skills in this field. These competencies are crucial for creating visually convincing and safe props that meet production specifications and tight deadlines.

How much does a prop maker earn?

Prop makers typically earn between $15 and $30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Entry-level prop makers may start at lower wages, while experienced professionals or those working on high-budget productions can earn higher rates or salaries. Many prop makers work freelance or on contract, which can affect income stability.

How to get into prop making as a career?

Prop making is a creative profession that involves designing and constructing props for theater, film, or television. Entry typically requires skills in sculpture, painting, and carpentry, often gained through art or design education, apprenticeships, or hands-on experience. Building a strong portfolio and understanding industry tools like foam, resin, and CAD software can improve job prospects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Prop Making jobs in California?

The most popular types of Prop Making jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Prop Making jobs in California?

For Prop Making jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Prop Making jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Prop Making jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Prop Making jobs?

Cities in California with the most Prop Making job openings:

Prop Making jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prop Making job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, and 18% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,223 per year, or $20.8 per hour.

Prop Team Shift Lead

Physical Intelligence

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Physical Intelligence is bringing general-purpose AI into the physical world. We are a group of engineers, scientists, roboticists, and company builders developing learning algorithms to create a model that will control any robot to do any task.
The Team
"Props" are the physical objects that robots interact with - the items a robot manipulates, or that sit in the background of a scene - during data collection and research work. The Prop Team keeps the right objects staged, tracked, and available so that collection can run smoothly. This role leads the team's hourly staff and manages the flow of incoming prop requests across the team's areas of work, making sure each request is fulfilled reliably.
In This Role You Will
  • Direct the Request Queue & Upkeep Work: Assign incoming and recurring prop requests across the shift, unblock people, and keep the queue moving so it clears within its service-level targets. Direct recurring upkeep work including central inventory management, staging stations, and labeling and QR-coding bins. Occasionally step in hands-on when the team is short-staffed or a request is time-sensitive - the exception, not the rule.
  • Lead & Manage the Team: Manage a team of people across all our shifts. Run check-ins and coaching, facilitate trials for prospective new team members, manage time cards, and coordinate with the staffing vendor/agency.
  • Audit & Coordinate: Audit the work of Prop Team members against the queue, coordinate with the operations leads and researchers who submit prop requests, and deliver feedback and requirements on tooling - flagging gaps as they surface.
  • Maintain Cross-Shift Continuity: Review incoming shift handover notes and set priorities at the start of each shift; write the handover note for the incoming shift at the end. Vary your hours across the week (Mon-Fri) to check in with all shift teams.
  • Execute the Process: Own execution of the team's concept of operations - its day-to-day process playbook. Designing and building that process is owned by the Props Program Lead.

What you'll bring
  • Experience managing, scheduling, and motivating an hourly, shift-based workforce (people-management experience strongly preferred).
  • A responsible, detail-oriented, organized, and high-ownership approach; comfortable operating against standard operating procedures that are still being iterated on.
  • Clear communication skills, including the ability to work with researchers and the operations team when there are questions about the process.
  • Comfort with directing work and managing people as the primary job, stepping into hands-on tasks only as needed.
  • For an otherwise strong candidate without formal people-management experience, we would want an explicit development plan in place before hiring, so the expectations of the role are clear and the person is set up to grow into them.

Nice to have
  • Experience with inventory management, staging/logistics, or physical operations.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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