Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in New York
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in New York earn a median of $93,410 a year ($44.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,410 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $74,990. New York ranks 4th of 46 states for camera operators, television, video, and film pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.30 camera operators, television, video, and film per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $99,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for camera operators, television, video, and film in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,710 | $27.27 |
| 25th percentile | $75,310 | $36.21 |
| Median | $93,410 | $44.91 |
| 75th percentile | $110,860 | $53.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,410 | $64.14 |
| Average (mean) | $99,080 | $47.63 |
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 | $7,784.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,892.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,592.69 |
| Weekly | $1,796.35 |
| Hourly | $44.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $93,410 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in cities in New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $93,410 | 3,000 |
| Rochester, NY | $76,700 | 50 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $56,710 | 60 |
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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $67,600 | $32.50 |
| Film and Video Editors | $103,440 | $49.73 |
| Photographer | $60,050 | $28.87 |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $87,510 | $42.07 |
| Broadcast Technician | $78,840 | $37.90 |
| Lighting Technician | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $76,020 | $36.55 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $81,250 | $39.06 |
| Producers and Directors | $107,550 | $51.71 |
| Editor | $101,480 | $48.79 |
| Graphic Designer | $77,340 | $37.19 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $59,920 | — |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| Art Director | $137,320 | $66.02 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 New York?
The median salary for camera operators, television, video, and film in New York is $93,410 a year, or $44.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid camera operators, television, video, and film make in New York?
The top 10% of camera operators, television, video, and film in New York earn at least $133,410 a year. The top 25% earn $110,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,710 a year, and a quarter of camera operators, television, video, and film earn $75,310 or less.
How many camera operators, television, video, and film work in New York?
About 2,930 camera operators, television, video, and film are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.