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Camera operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$74,990median pay per year, or $36.05 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $38,520lowest 10% earn less
  2. $50,92025th percentile
  3. $74,990median
  4. $106,66075th percentile
  5. $135,180top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median camera operator earned $74,990 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. A bachelor's degree is the typical way in[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.3%[5]
Openings per year
2,500[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[3]

How much do camera operators make?

The official BLS category is Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film. In May 2025, the median wage was $74,990 a year, or $36.05 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was $83,210 a year, or $40.01 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980, so this median sits above it[1][2].

Pay spread widely[4]:

Point in the range Annual wage Source
Lowest-paid 10% earned less than[4] $38,520
Lowest-paid 25% earned less than[4] $50,920
Median[1] $74,990
Highest-paid 25% earned more than[4] $106,660
Highest-paid 10% earned more than[4] $135,180

Per hour, the 10th percentile was $18.52 and the 90th percentile was $64.99[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out self-employed people and do not count bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits[10]. That matters here, because 34.7% of camera operators were self-employed in 2025[11]. About 21,550 people held wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

California had the top state median at $106,900, followed by Illinois at $100,170 and the District of Columbia at $98,300[13]. New York came fourth at $93,410[13]. Maine had the lowest published state median at $37,590[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA came first at $107,620, then Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $102,370 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $98,500[14].

The most jobs were in California (4,700), New York (2,930) and Texas (1,100)[15]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (3,540), New York-Newark-Jersey City (3,000) and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (740)[16].

Show median pay in 45 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[13]$106,9004,700
Illinois$100,1701,060
District of Columbia$98,300240
New York$93,4102,930
Georgia$85,050570
Alaska$83,62050
Colorado$74,990300
Utah$73,450240
Arizona$68,250520
Maryland$65,870290
Connecticut$65,630170
Ohio$64,860520
Texas$63,1101,100
North Carolina$62,720380
Florida$62,220970
Nevada$62,110320
Alabama$61,800220
Massachusetts$61,320370
Kansas$60,690110
Washington$60,250440
Louisiana$58,440270
Virginia$58,440420
Idaho$58,140120
South Carolina$57,94040
Iowa$57,22090
Tennessee$57,030460
Indiana$56,810200
Michigan$55,290380
Kentucky$53,790170
North Dakota$53,65040
Wisconsin$52,810300
Pennsylvania$51,760670
Minnesota$51,420300
Montana$50,910110
Mississippi$49,92060
Rhode Island$49,79050
New Mexico$49,050290
Arkansas$48,68060
Oklahoma$48,620220
Vermont$46,350130
Nebraska$46,180100
New Hampshire$45,880n/a
Hawaii$44,23090
South Dakota$44,16050
West Virginia$43,39060
Maine$37,59070

How to become a camera operator

The typical path calls for a bachelor's degree, no related work experience and no on-the-job training[3]. The details below come from a BLS profile covering a wider group that includes film and video editors[17].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 61% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree is required, 18% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 15% said some college courses and 7% said a bachelor's degree[21]. That is a small survey, so read it as a sketch and not as a rule.

Useful qualities include communication, creativity, hand-eye coordination to keep a camera steady while moving, and the stamina to carry heavy equipment[22][23][24][25].

What camera operators do

O*NET describes the job as running a camera to record images or scenes for television, video or film productions[26]. Common tasks include[27]:

Workers report job titles such as videographer, studio camera operator and news videographer[28].

Where they work

In the wider BLS group, work usually happens in studios or offices, and camera operators and videographers often shoot raw footage on location[29]. Those who film movies or television may be away from home for months and usually carry heavy gear to shooting sites[30]. Some face rough or dangerous conditions such as severe weather, and may stand for long periods waiting for an event[31].

Most in the wider group work full time, though part-time work is common. Broadcast workers may put in extra hours to meet deadlines. Motion picture workers may have busy periods during filming, then a stretch of looking for work before the next job[32]. Self-employed workers were the largest group of employers at 35%[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film to grow 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 32,600 to 33,000 jobs[5]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[34]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the OEWS count[5].

BLS expects about 2,500 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to a different occupation[35]. BLS also notes that robotic cameras are replacing some services that camera operators once provided[36].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a median well above the all-occupations median, and a wide range between the lowest and highest paid[1][2][4]. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry credential[3]. Growth is slower than average, and robotic cameras are cutting into the work[5][34][36]. About a third of workers (34.7%) were self-employed in 2025[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a camera operator make an hour?
The median was $36.05 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $18.52 and the 90th percentile was $64.99[8].
What degree do you need to be a camera operator?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education, with no related experience needed[3].
Is camera operator a growing job?
BLS projects 1.3% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[5][34]. About 2,500 openings a year are expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for camera operators?
California, with a median of $106,900[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in the US was $74,990 per year and $36.05 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: 10th percentile $38,520, 25th percentile $50,920, 75th percentile $106,660, 90th percentile $135,180. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film is projected to grow 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 32,600 to 33,000 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,500 openings for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film was $83,210 per year and $40.01 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: 10th percentile $18.52, 25th percentile $24.48, 75th percentile $51.28, 90th percentile $64.99. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 34.7% of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 21,550 people were employed as Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (areas with at least 100 jobs): Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $107,620; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $102,370; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $98,500; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $93,410; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $83,320; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $80,380; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $76,250; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $74,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film jobs: California 4,700; New York 2,930; Texas 1,100; Illinois 1,060; Florida 970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,540 (median $107,620); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,000 (median $93,410); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 740 (median $102,370); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 500 (median $83,320); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 360 (median $76,250); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 350 (median $71,080). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators" covers Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 27-4031.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 61%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 18%, Some College Courses 15%, Bachelor's Degree 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 27-4031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Camera Operator, Cameraman, Master Control Operator (MCO), News Videographer, Production Technician, Studio Camera Operator, Television News Photographer, Videographer. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of film and video editors and camera operators in 2025: Self-employed workers 35%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as robotic cameras replace services previously provided by camera operators. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.