Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in Virginia
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in Virginia earn a median of $58,440 a year ($28.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,870 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $74,990. Virginia ranks 22nd of 46 states for camera operators, television, video, and film pay. There are 0.10 camera operators, television, video, and film per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $66,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for camera operators, television, video, and film in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,710 | $20.05 |
| 25th percentile | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Median | $58,440 | $28.10 |
| 75th percentile | $79,530 | $38.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,870 | $47.54 |
| Average (mean) | $66,460 | $31.95 |
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 | $4,870 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,435 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,247.69 |
| Weekly | $1,123.85 |
| Hourly | $28.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,440 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 cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $83,320 | 500 |
| Richmond, VA | $55,120 | 50 |
| 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.
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $53,960 | $25.94 |
| Photographer | $46,550 | $22.38 |
| Broadcast Technician | $57,940 | $27.86 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $117,640 | $56.56 |
| Lighting Technician | $60,340 | $29.01 |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Film and Video Editors | $78,740 | $37.85 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $80,380 | $38.65 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $46,290 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $72,310 | $34.77 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Producers and Directors | $65,900 | $31.69 |
| Editor | $80,590 | $38.74 |
| Technical Writer | $93,600 | $45.00 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for camera operators, television, video, and film in Virginia is $58,440 a year, or $28.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid camera operators, television, video, and film make in Virginia?
The top 10% of camera operators, television, video, and film in Virginia earn at least $98,870 a year. The top 25% earn $79,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,710 a year, and a quarter of camera operators, television, video, and film earn $45,820 or less.
How many camera operators, television, video, and film work in Virginia?
About 420 camera operators, television, video, and film are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.