Average Salary for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
SOC 51-9151 · Production Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in the United States is $40,100 ($19.28/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $30,840 at the 10th percentile to $69,290 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 5,550 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 63% since 2014.
Median Annual
$40,100
Mean Annual
$46,050
10th Pct
$30,840
75th Pct
$51,590
Employment
5,550
Salary Distribution
$31k
10th
$34k
25th
$40k
Median
$52k
75th
$69k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $74,880 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $69,360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $53,290 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $49,640 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,350 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,600 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,760 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $44,920 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $44,280 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $43,410 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $43,090 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $40,200 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,520 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,280 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New York | $72,160 |
| Washington | $51,730 |
| Michigan | $51,590 |
| Maryland | $50,770 |
| Ohio | $50,120 |
| California | $45,850 |
| Wisconsin | $44,750 |
| New Jersey | $41,250 |
| Utah | $40,250 |
| Kentucky | $38,900 |
| Oregon | $38,650 |
| Texas | $37,980 |
| Missouri | $37,370 |
| Massachusetts | $37,230 |
| Virginia | $36,430 |
| Indiana | $36,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,130 |
| New Mexico | $35,960 |
| Florida | $35,960 |
| Arizona | $35,520 |
| North Carolina | $33,590 |
| Iowa | $32,100 |
| Tennessee | $31,370 |
| Georgia | $29,830 |
| Kansas | $29,120 |
| Illinois | $29,120 |
| Alabama | $28,910 |
| South Carolina | $28,860 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $76,590 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $76,590 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $76,590 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $57,200 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $54,700 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $54,380 |
| Information | $51,590 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $49,170 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $49,060 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $48,740 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $48,740 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,730 |
| Educational Services | $48,600 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $47,140 |
| Educational Services | $47,060 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $47,060 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $45,400 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only) | $43,210 |
| Wholesale Trade | $42,020 |
| Manufacturing | $41,460 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $41,460 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $41,460 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $40,260 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $40,010 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $39,840 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,760 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,760 |
| Photographic Services | $37,490 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,490 |
| Electronics and Appliance Retailers | $37,230 |
| Retail Trade | $37,230 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $37,230 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $36,390 |
| Other Personal Services | $36,380 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $36,130 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $34,370 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $34,370 |
| Employment Services | $34,340 |
| Temporary Help Services | $33,800 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $40,100 |
| 2023 | $35,620 |
| 2022 | $36,280 |
| 2021 | $36,590 |
| 2020 | $34,720 |
| 2019 | $32,280 |
| 2018 | $29,180 |
| 2017 | $27,480 |
| 2016 | $26,470 |
| 2015 | $26,590 |
| 2014 | $24,600 |