Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in Madison, WI
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $50,680 a year ($24.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,230 for the top 10%. That is 32% lower than the national median of $74,990. Pay here is 4% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $52,810. There are 0.19 camera operators, television, video, and film per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for camera operators, television, video, and film in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $36,990 | $17.78 |
| Median | $50,680 | $24.37 |
| 75th percentile | $62,040 | $29.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,230 | $32.32 |
| Average (mean) | $52,870 | $25.42 |
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 | $4,223.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,111.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,949.23 |
| Weekly | $974.62 |
| Hourly | $24.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,680 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,380 | 190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $52,920 | 130 |
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 or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Photographer | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Broadcast Technician | $65,990 | $31.73 |
| Film and Video Editors | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $73,510 | $35.34 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $42,750 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $63,970 | $30.76 |
| Producers and Directors | $68,350 | $32.86 |
| Editor | $66,920 | $32.17 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $43,000 | $20.67 |
| Interior Designer | $64,780 | $31.15 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $72,720 | $34.96 |
| Technical Writer | $86,180 | $41.43 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $60,780 | $29.22 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for camera operators, television, video, and film in the Madison, WI metro area is $50,680 a year, or $24.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid camera operators, television, video, and film make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of camera operators, television, video, and film in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $67,230 a year. The top 25% earn $62,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of camera operators, television, video, and film earn $36,990 or less.
How many camera operators, television, video, and film work in Madison, WI?
About 80 camera operators, television, video, and film are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.