Average Salary for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
SOC 27-4031 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in the United States is $68,810 ($33.08/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $36,240 at the 10th percentile to $131,420 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 24,460 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 43.1% since 2014.
Median Annual
$68,810
Mean Annual
$79,870
10th Pct
$36,240
75th Pct
$102,400
Employment
24,460
Salary Distribution
$36k
10th
$48k
25th
$69k
Median
$102k
75th
$131k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $103,930 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $102,310 |
| Tucson, AZ | $99,510 |
| Rochester, NY | $98,020 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $96,950 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $89,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $88,760 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $85,610 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $83,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $82,950 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $79,000 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $75,270 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $74,990 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $73,220 |
| Columbus, OH | $70,720 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $101,610 |
| District of Columbia | $100,940 |
| Oregon | $93,610 |
| New York | $89,960 |
| New Jersey | $85,560 |
| Illinois | $82,950 |
| Arizona | $74,830 |
| Colorado | $74,350 |
| Virginia | $71,760 |
| Maryland | $67,580 |
| Ohio | $67,040 |
| Texas | $64,430 |
| Connecticut | $63,950 |
| North Carolina | $62,130 |
| Georgia | $61,500 |
| Nevada | $61,020 |
| Florida | $61,020 |
| South Carolina | $59,690 |
| Louisiana | $58,860 |
| Missouri | $58,080 |
| Idaho | $56,880 |
| Indiana | $56,800 |
| Tennessee | $56,540 |
| Mississippi | $55,810 |
| Minnesota | $55,120 |
| Michigan | $54,910 |
| Washington | $53,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,830 |
| Massachusetts | $49,670 |
| New Hampshire | $48,780 |
| North Dakota | $48,460 |
| Vermont | $48,350 |
| Iowa | $48,110 |
| Wisconsin | $47,080 |
| Utah | $46,600 |
| Kansas | $46,490 |
| New Mexico | $46,420 |
| Kentucky | $46,110 |
| Oklahoma | $45,310 |
| Alabama | $45,180 |
| Hawaii | $41,850 |
| South Dakota | $39,470 |
| West Virginia | $39,470 |
| Nebraska | $39,070 |
| Maine | $36,040 |
| Montana | $35,080 |
| Arkansas | $32,510 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Temporary Help Services | $102,630 |
| Employment Services | $102,630 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $102,590 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $102,550 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $102,550 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $94,960 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $94,960 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $86,270 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $82,760 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $82,760 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $82,660 |
| Information | $78,650 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $75,380 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $75,250 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $70,060 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $68,810 |
| Manufacturing | $68,270 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $66,970 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $65,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $65,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $65,980 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $65,750 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $65,520 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $65,440 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $64,880 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $64,430 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $64,090 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $64,090 |
| Finance and Insurance | $63,790 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $63,440 |
| Publishing Industries | $62,820 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $62,810 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $62,680 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $62,680 |
| Religious Organizations | $62,400 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $62,400 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $62,400 |
| Wholesale Trade | $61,840 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $61,700 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $61,590 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $61,100 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $60,760 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $60,250 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $60,000 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $59,450 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $59,230 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $59,120 |
| Television Broadcasting Stations | $59,060 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $58,870 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $58,810 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $58,570 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $58,490 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | $58,440 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $58,210 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $57,790 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $57,530 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $57,040 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $56,530 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $55,810 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $55,810 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $54,810 |
| Spectator Sports | $54,700 |
| Retail Trade | $54,130 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $52,700 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $52,540 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $52,020 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $52,000 |
| Radio Broadcasting Stations | $51,260 |
| Junior Colleges | $51,100 |
| Telecommunications | $50,820 |
| Educational Services | $50,300 |
| Business Support Services | $50,290 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $50,130 |
| Real Estate | $49,980 |
| Automobile Dealers | $49,740 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $49,590 |
| Photographic Services | $49,480 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $48,940 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $47,400 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $45,200 |
| Educational Services | $45,120 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $44,720 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $43,340 |
| Educational Support Services | $33,990 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $22,670 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $68,810 |
| 2023 | $61,800 |
| 2022 | $58,230 |
| 2021 | $49,230 |
| 2020 | $57,200 |
| 2019 | $55,160 |
| 2018 | $54,570 |
| 2017 | $53,550 |
| 2016 | $55,080 |
| 2015 | $49,080 |
| 2014 | $48,080 |