27 Series · SOC 27-4031
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $74,990
- Median / year
- $135,180
- Top 10% earn
- +1.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 21,550
- US workers
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film earn a median of $74,990 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $74,990, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $38,520 (10th percentile) to $135,180 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 21,550 US workers. California pays the most ($106,900), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film earn a median of $74,990, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 66% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks #11 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.2% by 2033.
- $74,990
- Median annual wage
- Top 34%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #11 of 36
- in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- 3.5×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $106,900. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (SOC 27-4031) pays a national median of $74,990 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $38,520 at the 10th percentile to $135,180 at the 90th, with a mean of $83,210 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 21,550 Americans work in this occupation across 47 reporting states and 72 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $106,900, which is +43% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $107,620 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$74,990
per year
Median Hourly
$36.05/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$83,210
average
Employment
21,550
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$74,990 Top 34% higher than 66% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 27-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 27-series occupations with growth data, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film sits on the slower-growing side at +1.2% growth and $74,990 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+1.2%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
2,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
2.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Edit video for broadcast productions, including non-linear editing.
- ▸ Instruct camera operators regarding camera setups, angles, distances, movement, and variables and cues for starting and stopping filming.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Assemble studio sets and select and arrange cameras, film stock, audio, or lighting equipment to be used during filming.
- ▸ Read and analyze work orders and specifications to determine locations of subject material, work procedures, sequences of operations, and machine setups.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$38,520
25th Percentile
$50,920
Median
$74,990
75th Percentile
$106,660
90th Percentile
$135,180
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 47 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $106,900 | +43% above national |
| 2 | Illinois | $100,170 | +34% above national |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $98,300 | +31% above national |
| 4 | New York | $93,410 | +25% above national |
| 5 | Georgia | $85,050 | +13% above national |
| 6 | Alaska | $83,620 | +12% above national |
| 7 | Colorado | $74,990 | same as national |
| 8 | Utah | $73,450 | 2% below national |
| 9 | Arizona | $68,250 | 9% below national |
| 10 | Maryland | $65,870 | 12% below national |
| 11 | Connecticut | $65,630 | 12% below national |
| 12 | Ohio | $64,860 | 14% below national |
| 13 | Texas | $63,110 | 16% below national |
| 14 | North Carolina | $62,720 | 16% below national |
| 15 | Florida | $62,220 | 17% below national |
| 16 | Nevada | $62,110 | 17% below national |
| 17 | Alabama | $61,800 | 18% below national |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $61,320 | 18% below national |
| 19 | Kansas | $60,690 | 19% below national |
| 20 | Washington | $60,250 | 20% below national |
| 21 | Louisiana | $58,440 | 22% below national |
| 22 | Virginia | $58,440 | 22% below national |
| 23 | Idaho | $58,140 | 22% below national |
| 24 | South Carolina | $57,940 | 23% below national |
| 25 | Iowa | $57,220 | 24% below national |
| 26 | Tennessee | $57,030 | 24% below national |
| 27 | Indiana | $56,810 | 24% below national |
| 28 | Michigan | $55,290 | 26% below national |
| 29 | Kentucky | $53,790 | 28% below national |
| 30 | North Dakota | $53,650 | 28% below national |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $52,810 | 30% below national |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $51,760 | 31% below national |
| 33 | Minnesota | $51,420 | 31% below national |
| 34 | Montana | $50,910 | 32% below national |
| 35 | Mississippi | $49,920 | 33% below national |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $49,790 | 34% below national |
| 37 | New Mexico | $49,050 | 35% below national |
| 38 | Arkansas | $48,680 | 35% below national |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $48,620 | 35% below national |
| 40 | Vermont | $46,350 | 38% below national |
| 41 | Nebraska | $46,180 | 38% below national |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $45,880 | 39% below national |
| 43 | Hawaii | $44,230 | 41% below national |
| 44 | South Dakota | $44,160 | 41% below national |
| 45 | West Virginia | $43,390 | 42% below national |
| 46 | Puerto Rico | $38,380 | 49% below national |
| 47 | Maine | $37,590 | 50% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 72 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $107,620 | +44% above national |
| 2 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,370 | +37% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,500 | +31% above national |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $93,410 | +25% above national |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $84,870 | +13% above national |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $83,620 | +12% above national |
| 7 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $83,320 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,380 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $80,030 | +7% above national |
| 10 | Rochester, NY | $76,700 | +2% above national |
| 11 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $76,250 | +2% above national |
| 12 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $74,990 | same as national |
| 13 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $74,710 | same as national |
| 14 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $73,710 | 2% below national |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $72,540 | 3% below national |
| 16 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $71,390 | 5% below national |
| 17 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $71,360 | 5% below national |
| 18 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $71,080 | 5% below national |
| 19 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $67,560 | 10% below national |
| 20 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $65,870 | 12% below national |
| 21 | Jacksonville, FL | $65,640 | 12% below national |
| 22 | Huntsville, AL | $65,530 | 13% below national |
| 23 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $65,130 | 13% below national |
| 24 | Birmingham, AL | $64,730 | 14% below national |
| 25 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $64,490 | 14% below national |
| 26 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $64,380 | 14% below national |
| 27 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,990 | 15% below national |
| 28 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $63,970 | 15% below national |
| 29 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $63,720 | 15% below national |
| 30 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $63,230 | 16% below national |
| 31 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $62,870 | 16% below national |
| 32 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $62,810 | 16% below national |
| 33 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $62,720 | 16% below national |
| 34 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,220 | 17% below national |
| 35 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,110 | 17% below national |
| 36 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $61,820 | 18% below national |
| 37 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $61,500 | 18% below national |
| 38 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $61,150 | 18% below national |
| 39 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $60,800 | 19% below national |
| 40 | Baton Rouge, LA | $60,320 | 20% below national |
| 41 | Worcester, MA | $59,760 | 20% below national |
| 42 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $58,480 | 22% below national |
| 43 | Boise City, ID | $58,140 | 22% below national |
| 44 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $57,840 | 23% below national |
| 45 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $57,690 | 23% below national |
| 46 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $56,710 | 24% below national |
| 47 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $56,580 | 25% below national |
| 48 | Richmond, VA | $55,120 | 26% below national |
| 49 | Cleveland, OH | $54,990 | 27% below national |
| 50 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $54,690 | 27% below national |
| 51 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $54,690 | 27% below national |
| 52 | Knoxville, TN | $53,180 | 29% below national |
| 53 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $52,920 | 29% below national |
| 54 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $52,720 | 30% below national |
| 55 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $52,580 | 30% below national |
| 56 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $52,040 | 31% below national |
| 57 | Bozeman, MT | $50,910 | 32% below national |
| 58 | Albuquerque, NM | $50,860 | 32% below national |
| 59 | Madison, WI | $50,680 | 32% below national |
| 60 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,550 | 33% below national |
| 61 | Omaha, NE-IA | $49,680 | 34% below national |
| 62 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $48,770 | 35% below national |
| 63 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $48,680 | 35% below national |
| 64 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $48,680 | 35% below national |
| 65 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $46,350 | 38% below national |
| 66 | Oklahoma City, OK | $46,080 | 39% below national |
| 67 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $45,820 | 39% below national |
| 68 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,230 | 41% below national |
| 69 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $40,030 | 47% below national |
| 70 | Pittsburgh, PA | $38,630 | 48% below national |
| 71 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $38,400 | 49% below national |
| 72 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $36,230 | 52% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 27 (arts design entertainment sports and media) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film make? ▼
What state pays Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film? ▼
How dangerous is being a Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film? ▼
Is Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film a good career? ▼
How does Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $106,660/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $106,900/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.