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
- +0.2%
- 2024→2025
- $88,310
- Top 10% earn
- -3.7%
- Growth '24–'34
- 1,480
- Estimated US jobs
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 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is New York ($82,260).
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 2034.
- $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.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Motion Picture Projectionists moved from $25,150 in May 2019 to $38,270 in May 2025 (+52.2%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Motion Picture Projectionists sits +27.7 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Motion Picture Projectionists (SOC 39-3021) has a national median of $38,270 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $23,390 to $88,310, and the published mean is $51,480. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 1,480 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 12 state or territory areas and 3 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $38,180 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $38,270 in May 2025, a rise of $90 (+0.2%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -3.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 500 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns No formal educational credential as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Personal Care and Service Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
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 highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $92,180. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
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
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.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 (this entry) | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$38,270 · 9th percentile of 825 US occupations
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).
Read the chart as text
- Childcare Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.9%, Median annual wage $34980
- Amusement and Recrea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $32150
- Recreation Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $36560
- Exercise Trainers an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.9%, Median annual wage $47160
- Hairdressers, Hairst…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $35790
- Animal Caretakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $35360
- Manicurists and Pedi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $35760
- Ushers, Lobby Attend…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $32910
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $48590
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.3%, Median annual wage $48560
- Residential Advisors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $42240
- Gambling Dealers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $34320
- Skincare Specialists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $45330
- Personal Care and Se…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $41600
- Tour and Travel Guides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.1%, Median annual wage $38120
- Concierges: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $38950
- Funeral Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $35680
- Baggage Porters and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $37080
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $63820
- Morticians, Undertak…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $55010
- Animal Trainers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $39990
- Locker Room, Coatroo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $36300
- Barbers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $38210
- Gambling Service Wor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $36310
- Motion Picture Projectionists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.7%, Median annual wage $38270
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)
Employment Change
-100
2,000 (2024) → 2,000 (2034)
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 →Personal Care and Service Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
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
Knowledge Areas
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
Hourly Rate Distribution
Motion Picture Projectionists pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $21,490 |
| 2016 | $22,100 |
| 2017 | $22,050 |
| 2018 | $22,760 |
| 2019 | $25,150 |
| 2020 | $27,490 |
| 2021 | $29,350 |
| 2022 | $33,360 |
| 2023 | $35,160 |
| 2024 | $38,180 |
| 2025 | $38,270 |
2015 median
$21,490
2025 median
$38,270
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$13,120 (+52.2%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+7.2%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $21,490 | First banked release | 5,620 |
| May 2016 | $22,100 | +2.8% | 5,480 |
| May 2017 | $22,050 | -0.2% | 5,700 |
| May 2018 | $22,760 | +3.2% | 4,840 |
| May 2019 | $25,150 | Classification break | 4,540 |
| May 2020 | $27,490 | +9.3% | 2,270 |
| May 2021 | $29,350 | +6.8% | 1,620 |
| May 2022 | $33,360 | +13.7% | 1,900 |
| May 2023 | $35,160 | +5.4% | 2,610 |
| May 2024 | $38,180 | +8.6% | 1,950 |
| May 2025 | $38,270 | +0.2% | 1,480 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $21,490 in May 2015 to $38,270 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +7.2% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 4,540 in May 2019 to 1,480 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
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
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 |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 39 (Personal Care and Service Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
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
Showing 5 of 31 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Personal Care and Service Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($38,270 here) and reported employment (1,480 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Motion Picture Projectionists make? ▼
Where does Motion Picture Projectionists pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Motion Picture Projectionists the most? ▼
What education do Motion Picture Projectionists need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Motion Picture Projectionists? ▼
Is Motion Picture Projectionists a good career? ▼
How does Motion Picture Projectionists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Motion Picture Projectionists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Motion Picture Projectionists pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $77,730/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. 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.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
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.