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Photo lab technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$40,610median pay per year, or $19.52 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $30,090lowest 10% earn less
  2. $35,17025th percentile
  3. $40,610median
  4. $50,15075th percentile
  5. $68,800top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Photo lab technicians, listed by BLS as photographic process workers and processing machine operators, had a median pay of $40,610 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to decline 5.6% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.6%[2]
Openings per year
600[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do photo lab technicians make?

The median pay was $40,610 a year, or $19.52 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $46,050 a year, or $22.14 an hour[7].

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. The median for this job sat below that figure.

The range looks like this:

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th[3][8] $30,090 $14.47
25th[3][8] $35,170 $16.91
75th[3][8] $50,150 $24.11
90th[3][8] $68,800 $33.08

The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less than that amount[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. The figures cover wage and salary workers and leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Among 29 states with published data, New York had the highest median at $57,760, based on about 400 jobs[11]. Virginia followed at $47,380 and California at $47,320[11]. Tennessee had the lowest median in the list at $29,050[11].

The most jobs are in California (740), Florida (450), New York (400), North Carolina (320) and Indiana (240)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median at $54,400[13]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ came next at $52,000, then Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $47,450[13]. New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most jobs at 390, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim with 280[14].

Show median pay in 29 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[11]$57,760400
Virginia$47,380110
California$47,320740
Florida$46,840450
Wisconsin$46,48060
Washington$46,28080
Maryland$45,600200
Iowa$43,31090
New Jersey$43,300110
Delaware$42,22030
Oregon$39,94040
Utah$39,51060
Michigan$38,610150
Massachusetts$38,400n/a
Illinois$37,940n/a
Indiana$37,670240
Connecticut$37,46080
Kentucky$37,430120
Pennsylvania$37,340160
Arizona$36,650n/a
Louisiana$36,50060
Texas$35,950160
North Carolina$35,580320
Georgia$34,79050
Missouri$33,540100
South Carolina$30,01050
Alabama$29,85040
Ohio$29,770190
Tennessee$29,050110

How to become a photo lab technician

BLS lists the typical path like this[6]:

In an ONET survey of 27 workers, 84% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[15]. ONET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation is needed[16].

The facts do not say how long the training lasts.

What photo lab technicians do

The work involves processing and developing pictures taken on film or in digital form. Some workers also do precision tasks such as editing negatives and prints[17]. Typical tasks include[18]:

O*NET job titles include Photo Lab Technician, Film Processor and Digital Printer Operator[19].

Where they work

The wage survey counted about 4,800 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[20]. BLS Employment Projections include self-employed workers and say 14.7% of the group were self-employed in 2025[21].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,300 to 5,000 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[22].

Jobs still open up. BLS projects about 600 openings a year[5]. Openings include workers who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year 3.5% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 8.4% to move to a different occupation[23].

Several related jobs show declines too. Prepress Technicians and Workers are projected at -15.3% and Printing Press Operators at -8.7%[24].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with pay below the all-occupations median[1][4]. Entry needs a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training[6]. Employment is projected to shrink 5.6%[2], though about 600 openings a year are expected[5]. Pay varies by place, so local figures are worth checking[11][13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a photo lab technician make an hour?
The median was $19.52 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $14.47 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $33.08[8].
What education do you need to be a photo lab technician?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with short-term on-the-job training[6].
Is photo lab work in demand?
BLS projects a 5.6% decline from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% growth for all occupations[2][22]. About 600 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for photo lab technicians?
New York had the highest median at $57,760, based on about 400 jobs[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in the US was $40,610 per year and $19.52 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators is projected to decline 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,300 to 5,000 jobs (a change of -300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators: 10th percentile $30,090, 25th percentile $35,170, 75th percentile $50,150, 90th percentile $68,800. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 600 openings for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators 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
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators was $46,050 per year and $22.14 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators: 10th percentile $14.47, 25th percentile $16.91, 75th percentile $24.11, 90th percentile $33.08. 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. Median annual wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators jobs: California 740; Florida 450; New York 400; North Carolina 320; Indiana 240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $54,400; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $52,000; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $47,450; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $44,560; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $37,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 390 (median $52,000); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 280 (median $47,450); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 140 (median $37,340); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 130 (median $54,400); Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 120 (median $44,560); Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN 90 (median $37,720). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 51-9151.00 survey of workers (27 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 84%, Some College Courses 8%, Bachelor's Degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET 51-9151.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET task list for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 51-9151.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Digital Printer Operator, Film Processor, Film Technician, Lab Technician, Photo Lab Specialist, Photo Lab Technician (Photographic Laboratory Technician), Photo Printer, Photo Specialist. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,800 people were employed as Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  21. BLS Employment Projections: 14.7% of Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 8.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. 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.

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.