Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in Richmond, VA
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $55,120 a year ($26.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,180 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $74,990. Pay here is 6% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $58,440. There are 0.08 camera operators, television, video, and film per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $59,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for camera operators, television, video, and film in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,580 | $19.51 |
| 25th percentile | $45,870 | $22.05 |
| Median | $55,120 | $26.50 |
| 75th percentile | $70,280 | $33.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,180 | $37.11 |
| Average (mean) | $59,130 | $28.43 |
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 | $4,593.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,296.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,120 |
| Weekly | $1,060 |
| Hourly | $26.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $55,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $83,320 | 500 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $45,820 | 90 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| Photographer | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Broadcast Technician | $52,160 | $25.08 |
| Lighting Technician | $55,220 | $26.55 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $75,730 | $36.41 |
| Graphic Designer | $66,350 | $31.90 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| Interior Designer | $58,790 | $28.27 |
| Producers and Directors | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Editor | $70,380 | $33.84 |
| Writers and Authors | $74,300 | $35.72 |
| Technical Writer | $79,200 | $38.08 |
| Art Director | $99,610 | $47.89 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $78,030 | $37.52 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, VA
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for camera operators, television, video, and film in the Richmond, VA metro area is $55,120 a year, or $26.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid camera operators, television, video, and film make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of camera operators, television, video, and film in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $77,180 a year. The top 25% earn $70,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,580 a year, and a quarter of camera operators, television, video, and film earn $45,870 or less.
How many camera operators, television, video, and film work in Richmond, VA?
About 50 camera operators, television, video, and film are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.