39 Series · SOC 39-3021

Motion Picture Projectionists Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$38,270
Median / year
$88,310
Top 10% earn
-3.7%
Growth '23–'33
1,480
US workers

Motion Picture Projectionists earn a median of $38,270 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $38,270, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $23,390 (10th percentile) to $88,310 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,480 US workers. New York pays the most ($82,260), since pay varies by state and metro area.

39 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Motion Picture Projectionists earn a median of $38,270, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 9% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Personal Care and Service, it ranks #15 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 3.7% by 2033.

$38,270
Median annual wage
Top 91%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#15 of 32
in Personal Care and Service
3.8×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: New York at $82,260. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Motion Picture Projectionists (SOC 39-3021) pays a national median of $38,270 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $23,390 at the 10th percentile to $88,310 at the 90th, with a mean of $51,480 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,480 Americans work in this occupation across 12 reporting states and 3 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -3.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. 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 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $82,260, which is +115% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $92,180 - 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.

BLS OEWS May 2025 1,480 jobs Median $38,270/yr

Median Salary

$38,270

per year

Median Hourly

$18.40/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$51,480

average

Employment

1,480

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Motion Picture Projectionists pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$38,270 Bottom 9% higher than 9% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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 39-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Motion Picture Projectionists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 39-series occupations with growth data, Motion Picture Projectionists sits on the slower-growing side at -3.7% growth and $38,270 median pay.

Among 25 39-series occupations with growth data, Motion Picture Projectionists sits on the slower-growing side at -3.7% growth and $38,270 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 39-series occupations with growth data, Motion Picture Projectionists sits on the slower-growing side at -3.7% growth and $38,270 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-3.7%

Declining

Annual Openings

500

per year (projected)

Typical Education

No formal educational credential

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

1.5/100K

Injury Rate

2/100

Danger Index

8.8/100

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 Motion Picture Projectionists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Operation and Control 3.0
Critical Thinking 2.9
Monitoring 2.9
Social Perceptiveness 2.9
Coordination 2.9
Complex Problem Solving 2.9

Knowledge Areas

Computers and Electronics 4.1
Customer and Personal Service 3.3
Mechanical 3.2
English Language 3.2
Administration and Management 2.8
Communications and Media 2.7
Public Safety and Security 2.5
Engineering and Technology 2.5
Mathematics 2.4
Administrative 2.4

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Monitor operations to ensure that standards for sound and image projection quality are met.
  • ▸ Inspect movie films to ensure that they are complete and in good condition.
  • ▸ Start projectors and open shutters to project images onto screens.
  • ▸ Open and close facilities according to rules and schedules.
  • ▸ Operate equipment to show films in a number of theaters simultaneously.
  • ▸ Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as rotating or replacing xenon bulbs, cleaning projectors and lenses, lubricating machinery, and keeping electrical contacts clean and tight.
  • ▸ Set up and adjust picture projectors and screens to achieve proper size, illumination, and focus of images, and proper volume and tone of sound.
  • ▸ Inspect projection equipment prior to operation to ensure proper working order.
  • ▸ Perform minor repairs, such as replacing worn sprockets, or notify maintenance personnel of the need for major repairs.
  • ▸ Set up and inspect curtain and screen controls.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$23,390$30,040$38,270$77,730$88,310
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$11.25$14.44$18.40$37.37$42.46
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$23,390

25th Percentile

$30,040

Median

$38,270

75th Percentile

$77,730

90th Percentile

$88,310

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. New York $82,260 2. Illinois $78,990 3. California $74,840 4. Washington $39,070 5. Michigan $37,590

Lowest Paying States

8. Tennessee $22,750 9. Iowa $23,210 10. Missouri $29,140 11. Pennsylvania $29,850 12. Texas $31,160
View all 12 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 New York $82,260 +115% above national
2 Illinois $78,990 +106% above national
3 California $74,840 +96% above national
4 Washington $39,070 +2% above national
5 Michigan $37,590 2% below national
6 Ohio $36,870 4% below national
7 Arizona $32,890 14% below national
8 Texas $31,160 19% below national
9 Pennsylvania $29,850 22% below national
10 Missouri $29,140 24% below national
11 Iowa $23,210 39% below national
12 Tennessee $22,750 41% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $92,180 2. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $85,460 3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $82,270

Lowest Paying Metros

-1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $82,270 0. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $85,460 1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $92,180
View all 3 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $92,180 +141% above national
2 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $85,460 +123% above national
3 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $82,270 +115% above national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 39 (personal care and service) with comparable pay and career paths.

Amusement and Recreation Attendants

SOC 39-3091

Animal Caretakers

SOC 39-2021

Animal Trainers

SOC 39-2011

Baggage Porters and Bellhops

SOC 39-6011

Barbers

SOC 39-5011
Compare Motion Picture Projectionists side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Motion Picture Projectionists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Motion Picture Projectionists is $38,270 ($18.40/hour). The salary range spans from $23,390 at the 10th percentile to $88,310 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Motion Picture Projectionists the most? ▼
New York pays the highest median salary for Motion Picture Projectionists at $82,260/year, which is +115% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Motion Picture Projectionists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Motion Picture Projectionists is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Motion Picture Projectionists? ▼
Motion Picture Projectionists has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2 per 100 workers.
Is Motion Picture Projectionists a good career? ▼
Employment for Motion Picture Projectionists is projected to decline 3.7% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 500 openings are projected each year.
How does Motion Picture Projectionists pay vary by state? ▼
Motion Picture Projectionists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is New York at $82,260/year, while Texas pays the least at $31,160/year. BLS data covers 12 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Motion Picture Projectionists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Motion Picture Projectionists is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $92,180/year. BLS reports wage data for 3 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Motion Picture Projectionists pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $77,730/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: New York leads at $82,260/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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

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.