Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in Iowa
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in Iowa earn a median of $57,220 a year ($27.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,180 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $74,990. Iowa ranks 25th of 46 states for camera operators, television, video, and film pay. There are 0.06 camera operators, television, video, and film per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $58,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for camera operators, television, video, and film in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,700 | $17.64 |
| 25th percentile | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| Median | $57,220 | $27.51 |
| 75th percentile | $75,000 | $36.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,180 | $39.03 |
| Average (mean) | $58,250 | $28.00 |
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 | $4,768.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,384.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,200.77 |
| Weekly | $1,100.38 |
| Hourly | $27.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $49,680 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for camera operators, television, video, and film
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $106,900 |
| Illinois | $100,170 |
| District of Columbia | $98,300 |
| New York | $93,410 |
| Georgia | $85,050 |
| Alaska | $83,620 |
| Colorado | $74,990 |
| Utah | $73,450 |
| Arizona | $68,250 |
| Maryland | $65,870 |
See Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay in every state.
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Photographer | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $51,030 | $24.53 |
| Broadcast Technician | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $57,400 | $27.60 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $49,350 | — |
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,970 | $30.27 |
| Graphic Designer | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,680 | $19.08 |
| Editor | $57,200 | $27.50 |
| Producers and Directors | $58,550 | $28.15 |
| Technical Writer | $66,520 | $31.98 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $43,540 | $20.93 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| Interior Designer | $58,040 | $27.90 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for camera operators, television, video, and film in Iowa is $57,220 a year, or $27.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid camera operators, television, video, and film make in Iowa?
The top 10% of camera operators, television, video, and film in Iowa earn at least $81,180 a year. The top 25% earn $75,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,700 a year, and a quarter of camera operators, television, video, and film earn $45,280 or less.
How many camera operators, television, video, and film work in Iowa?
About 90 camera operators, television, video, and film are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.