Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in the U.S.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in the U.S. earn a median of $74,990 a year ($36.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,550 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,180 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $83,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for camera operators, television, video, and film in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| 25th percentile | $50,920 | $24.48 |
| Median | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| 75th percentile | $106,660 | $51.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,180 | $64.99 |
| Average (mean) | $83,210 | $40.01 |
Half of camera operators, television, video, and film earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,249.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,124.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,884.23 |
| Weekly | $1,442.12 |
| Hourly | $36.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $106,900 | 4,700 |
| Illinois | $100,170 | 1,060 |
| District of Columbia | $98,300 | 240 |
| New York | $93,410 | 2,930 |
| Georgia | $85,050 | 570 |
| Alaska | $83,620 | 50 |
| Colorado | $74,990 | 300 |
| Utah | $73,450 | 240 |
| Arizona | $68,250 | 520 |
| Maryland | $65,870 | 290 |
| Connecticut | $65,630 | 170 |
| Ohio | $64,860 | 520 |
| Texas | $63,110 | 1,100 |
| North Carolina | $62,720 | 380 |
| Florida | $62,220 | 970 |
| Nevada | $62,110 | 320 |
| Alabama | $61,800 | 220 |
| Massachusetts | $61,320 | 370 |
| Kansas | $60,690 | 110 |
| Washington | $60,250 | 440 |
| Louisiana | $58,440 | 270 |
| Virginia | $58,440 | 420 |
| Idaho | $58,140 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $57,940 | 40 |
| Iowa | $57,220 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $57,030 | 460 |
| Indiana | $56,810 | 200 |
| Michigan | $55,290 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $53,790 | 170 |
| North Dakota | $53,650 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $52,810 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,760 | 670 |
| Minnesota | $51,420 | 300 |
| Montana | $50,910 | 110 |
| Mississippi | $49,920 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $49,790 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $49,050 | 290 |
| Arkansas | $48,680 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $48,620 | 220 |
| Vermont | $46,350 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $46,180 | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $45,880 | n/a |
| Hawaii | $44,230 | 90 |
| South Dakota | $44,160 | 50 |
| West Virginia | $43,390 | 60 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,380 | 150 |
| Maine | $37,590 | 70 |
Best-paying metro areas for camera operators, television, video, and film
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $107,620 | 3,540 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,370 | 740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,500 | 280 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $93,410 | 3,000 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $84,870 | 50 |
| Anchorage, AK | $83,620 | 40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $83,320 | 500 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,380 | 190 |
| Fresno, CA | $80,030 | 40 |
| Rochester, NY | $76,700 | 50 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $76,250 | 360 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $74,990 | 220 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $74,710 | 210 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $73,710 | 140 |
| Columbus, OH | $72,540 | 120 |
Metro areas with the most camera operators, television, video, and film
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,540 | $107,620 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,000 | $93,410 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 740 | $102,370 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 500 | $83,320 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 360 | $76,250 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 350 | $71,080 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 330 | $62,220 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 320 | $61,820 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 300 | $52,040 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 290 | $64,380 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 290 | $62,110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 280 | $98,500 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 250 | $60,800 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 220 | $74,990 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 220 | $62,870 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Photographer | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Film and Video Editors | $75,420 | $36.26 |
| Broadcast Technician | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $70,720 | $34.00 |
| Lighting Technician | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a camera operators, television, video, and film make in the U.S.?
The median salary for camera operators, television, video, and film in the U.S. is $74,990 a year, or $36.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid camera operators, television, video, and film make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of camera operators, television, video, and film in the U.S. earn at least $135,180 a year. The top 25% earn $106,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,520 a year, and a quarter of camera operators, television, video, and film earn $50,920 or less.
How many camera operators, television, video, and film work in the U.S.?
About 21,550 camera operators, television, video, and film are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.