Camera operators, television, video, and film salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Mean (average) | $83,210 | $40.01 |
| 90th percentile | $135,180 | $64.99 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Camera operators, television, video, and film pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,800 | $41,190 | $69,630 | 220 | 0.75 |
| Alaska | $83,620 | $43,140 | $83,630 | 50 | 1.01 |
| Arizona | $68,250 | $38,520 | $162,960 | 520 | 1.17 |
| Arkansas | $48,680 | $30,070 | $93,090 | 60 | 0.34 |
| California | $106,900 | $53,910 | $154,240 | 4,700 | 1.86 |
| Colorado | $74,990 | $47,900 | $122,170 | 300 | 0.76 |
| Connecticut | $65,630 | $37,000 | $89,900 | 170 | 0.72 |
| District of Columbia | $98,300 | $62,450 | $134,450 | 240 | 2.51 |
| Florida | $62,220 | $32,230 | $132,320 | 970 | 0.71 |
| Georgia | $85,050 | $36,250 | $159,090 | 570 | 0.84 |
| Hawaii | $44,230 | $30,880 | $76,600 | 90 | 1.06 |
| Idaho | $58,140 | $33,540 | $98,770 | 120 | 1.01 |
| Illinois | $100,170 | $38,840 | $133,940 | 1,060 | 1.25 |
| Indiana | $56,810 | $34,640 | $76,540 | 200 | 0.46 |
| Iowa | $57,220 | $36,700 | $81,180 | 90 | 0.43 |
| Kansas | $60,690 | $36,270 | $90,820 | 110 | 0.56 |
| Kentucky | $53,790 | $43,420 | $70,480 | 170 | 0.63 |
| Louisiana | $58,440 | $38,590 | $95,990 | 270 | 1 |
| Maine | $37,590 | $32,810 | $154,230 | 70 | 0.81 |
| Maryland | $65,870 | $44,900 | $97,800 | 290 | 0.77 |
| Massachusetts | $61,320 | $31,300 | $133,760 | 370 | 0.73 |
| Michigan | $55,290 | $38,280 | $81,030 | 380 | 0.62 |
| Minnesota | $51,420 | $34,320 | $115,420 | 300 | 0.73 |
| Mississippi | $49,920 | $31,540 | $79,170 | 60 | 0.37 |
| Missouri | Data unavailable | 170 | 0.41 | ||
| Montana | $50,910 | $26,100 | $65,620 | 110 | 1.56 |
| Nebraska | $46,180 | $28,080 | $65,120 | 100 | 0.68 |
| Nevada | $62,110 | $33,160 | $99,560 | 320 | 1.49 |
| New Hampshire | $45,880 | $33,180 | $70,850 | ||
| New Jersey | Data unavailable | 750 | 1.26 | ||
| New Mexico | $49,050 | $38,730 | $101,160 | 290 | 2.4 |
| New York | $93,410 | $56,710 | $133,410 | 2,930 | 2.19 |
| North Carolina | $62,720 | $43,040 | $85,710 | 380 | 0.55 |
| North Dakota | $53,650 | $38,130 | $84,990 | 40 | 0.65 |
| Ohio | $64,860 | $43,080 | $104,830 | 520 | 0.68 |
| Oklahoma | $48,620 | $34,830 | $103,440 | 220 | 0.94 |
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 280 | 1.02 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $51,760 | $21,580 | $95,910 | 670 | 0.79 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,380 | $27,080 | $49,660 | 150 | 1.12 |
| Rhode Island | $49,790 | $42,290 | $76,500 | 50 | 0.78 |
| South Carolina | $57,940 | $40,740 | $76,110 | 40 | 0.11 |
| South Dakota | $44,160 | $28,880 | $77,180 | 50 | 0.75 |
| Tennessee | $57,030 | $40,440 | $131,050 | 460 | 1.01 |
| Texas | $63,110 | $32,360 | $111,990 | 1,100 | 0.57 |
| Utah | $73,450 | $39,940 | $105,270 | 240 | 1.02 |
| Vermont | $46,350 | $36,810 | $119,660 | 130 | 3.08 |
| Virginia | $58,440 | $41,710 | $98,870 | 420 | 0.74 |
| Washington | $60,250 | $37,780 | $130,410 | 440 | 0.9 |
| West Virginia | $43,390 | $28,330 | $67,790 | 60 | 0.57 |
| Wisconsin | $52,810 | $32,280 | $85,320 | 300 | 0.73 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for camera operators, television, video, and film
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 34.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for camera operators, television, video, and film
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician CIP 10.0202
- Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other CIP 10.0299
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production CIP 50.0602
- Documentary Production CIP 50.0607
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
- Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
- Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
- Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.
- Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
- Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
- Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
- Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
Technology skills
- Adobe After Effects (in demand)
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (in demand)
- Adobe Illustrator (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (in demand)
- TikTok (in demand)
- Adobe Premiere Pro (in demand)
- Apple Final Cut Pro (in demand)
- Video editing software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Apple Final Cut Studio
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Camera Operator, Cameraman, Master Control Operator (MCO), News Videographer, Production Technician, Studio Camera Operator, Television News Photographer, Videographer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do camera operators, television, video, and film make?
The national median annual wage for camera operators, television, video, and film was $74,990 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,520 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $135,180. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do camera operators, television, video, and film need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is camera operators, television, video, and film a growing career?
BLS projects employment of camera operators, television, video, and film to change +1.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay camera operators, television, video, and film the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($106,900), Illinois ($100,170), District of Columbia ($98,300). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.