Photographic process workers and processing machine operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,090 | $14.47 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $40,610 | $19.52 |
| Mean (average) | $46,050 | $22.14 |
| 90th percentile | $68,800 | $33.08 |
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
Photographic process workers and processing machine operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 29 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,850 | $27,510 | $46,090 | 40 | 0.65 |
| Arizona | $36,650 | $34,580 | $44,540 | ||
| California | $47,320 | $37,900 | $84,430 | 740 | 1.31 |
| Connecticut | $37,460 | $34,010 | $47,130 | 80 | 1.45 |
| Delaware | $42,220 | $40,140 | $42,220 | 30 | 2.08 |
| Florida | $46,840 | $27,080 | $52,800 | 450 | 1.48 |
| Georgia | $34,790 | $24,810 | $139,830 | 50 | 0.3 |
| Illinois | $37,940 | $31,200 | $74,800 | ||
| Indiana | $37,670 | $31,840 | $54,690 | 240 | 2.4 |
| Iowa | $43,310 | $30,480 | $52,970 | 90 | 1.91 |
| Kentucky | $37,430 | $27,480 | $45,920 | 120 | 1.98 |
| Louisiana | $36,500 | $32,730 | $47,970 | 60 | 0.99 |
| Maryland | $45,600 | $36,130 | $76,370 | 200 | 2.29 |
| Massachusetts | $38,400 | $36,880 | $85,530 | ||
| Michigan | $38,610 | $32,120 | $51,540 | 150 | 1.1 |
| Missouri | $33,540 | $30,080 | $49,270 | 100 | 1.14 |
| New Jersey | $43,300 | $35,390 | $51,020 | 110 | 0.83 |
| New York | $57,760 | $39,490 | $106,470 | 400 | 1.34 |
| North Carolina | $35,580 | $34,680 | $58,310 | 320 | 2.13 |
| Ohio | $29,770 | $28,030 | $37,830 | 190 | 1.11 |
| Oregon | $39,940 | $39,940 | $46,940 | 40 | 0.58 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,340 | $30,890 | $48,300 | 160 | 0.87 |
| South Carolina | $30,010 | $26,780 | $34,310 | 50 | 0.75 |
| Tennessee | $29,050 | $18,720 | $53,560 | 110 | 1.05 |
| Texas | $35,950 | $28,890 | $66,630 | 160 | 0.36 |
| Utah | $39,510 | $37,390 | $43,050 | 60 | 1.2 |
| Virginia | $47,380 | $31,790 | $59,310 | 110 | 0.89 |
| Washington | $46,280 | $36,640 | $75,310 | 80 | 0.77 |
| Wisconsin | $46,480 | $37,210 | $61,990 | 60 | 0.63 |
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 photographic process workers and processing machine operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 14.7%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for photographic process workers and processing machine operators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
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
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
- Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
- Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
- Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
- Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
- Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.
- Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes.
- Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Amazon Web Services AWS software (hot technology)
- Cascading style sheets CSS (hot technology)
- Docker (hot technology)
- Git (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- MongoDB (hot technology)
- MySQL (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Digital Printer Operator, Film Processor, Film Technician, Lab Technician, Photo Lab Specialist, Photo Lab Technician (Photographic Laboratory Technician), Photo Printer, Photo Specialist, Photo Technician.
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 photographic process workers and processing machine operators make?
The national median annual wage for photographic process workers and processing machine operators was $40,610 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $30,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $68,800. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do photographic process workers and processing machine operators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is photographic process workers and processing machine operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of photographic process workers and processing machine operators to change -5.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay photographic process workers and processing machine operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($57,760), Virginia ($47,380), California ($47,320). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.