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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

27-4031 Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.


National estimates for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
Industry profile for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
Geographic profile for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

National estimates for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
22,970 13.6 % $ 33.63 $ 69,940 5.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 15.96 $ 20.54 $ 27.99 $ 40.50 $ 56.14
Annual Wage (2) $ 33,190 $ 42,710 $ 58,230 $ 84,240 $ 116,770


Industry profile for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Motion Picture and Video Industries 9,570 2.29 $ 36.79 $ 76,510
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 2,480 1.07 $ 39.73 $ 82,630
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations 1,560 1.30 $ 23.20 $ 48,250
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services 940 0.20 $ 28.27 $ 58,800
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 830 0.10 $ 22.57 $ 46,950

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Motion Picture and Video Industries 9,570 2.29 $ 36.79 $ 76,510
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations 1,560 1.30 $ 23.20 $ 48,250
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 2,480 1.07 $ 39.73 $ 82,630
Spectator Sports 340 0.26 $ 23.78 $ 49,460
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services 940 0.20 $ 28.27 $ 58,800

Top paying industries for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Employment Services 740 0.02 $ 47.16 $ 98,080
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 100 0.07 $ 41.20 $ 85,690
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 2,480 1.07 $ 39.73 $ 82,630
Performing Arts Companies 30 0.03 $ 39.21 $ 81,550
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services 770 0.07 $ 38.13 $ 79,310


Geographic profile for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of camera operators, television, video, and film by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York 2,030 0.22 1.43 $ 47.17 $ 98,120
Florida 1,430 0.16 1.00 $ 28.39 $ 59,050
New Jersey 1,060 0.26 1.67 $ 45.48 $ 94,590
Texas 960 0.07 0.48 $ 27.63 $ 57,480
Massachusetts 810 0.23 1.46 $ 24.72 $ 51,410


Map of location quotient of camera operators, television, video, and film by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 430 0.63 4.04 $ 42.31 $ 88,000
Vermont 150 0.50 3.21 $ 21.82 $ 45,380
New Mexico 380 0.46 2.95 $ 24.64 $ 51,240
New Jersey 1,060 0.26 1.67 $ 45.48 $ 94,590
Connecticut 420 0.26 1.66 $ 35.97 $ 74,820


Map of annual mean wages of camera operators, television, video, and film by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York 2,030 0.22 1.43 $ 47.17 $ 98,120
New Jersey 1,060 0.26 1.67 $ 45.48 $ 94,590
Washington 420 0.12 0.80 $ 43.71 $ 90,910
District of Columbia 430 0.63 4.04 $ 42.31 $ 88,000
Arizona 620 0.20 1.32 $ 39.78 $ 82,740



Map of employment of camera operators, television, video, and film by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,500 0.27 1.75 $ 47.73 $ 99,280
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 650 0.24 1.56 $ 24.74 $ 51,450
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 640 0.21 1.37 $ 40.13 $ 83,470
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 640 0.24 1.56 $ 26.95 $ 56,060
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 500 0.23 1.46 $ 40.67 $ 84,590
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 350 0.13 0.82 $ 39.98 $ 83,160
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 320 0.27 1.73 $ 33.89 $ 70,490
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 310 0.56 3.59 (8) (8)
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 290 0.08 0.49 $ 26.50 $ 55,120
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 280 0.10 0.66 $ 27.77 $ 57,760


Map of location quotient of camera operators, television, video, and film by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Missoula, MT 40 0.72 4.63 $ 22.41 $ 46,610
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 310 0.56 3.59 (8) (8)
Burlington-South Burlington, VT 60 0.55 3.55 $ 22.76 $ 47,340
Provo-Orem, UT 130 0.47 3.01 $ 23.37 $ 48,610
Albuquerque, NM 150 0.39 2.51 $ 21.22 $ 44,150
Wilmington, NC 50 0.38 2.47 (8) (8)
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 180 0.34 2.19 $ 35.06 $ 72,930
Trenton, NJ 70 0.31 1.99 (8) (8)
Urban Honolulu, HI 120 0.29 1.90 (8) (8)
Portland-South Portland, ME 60 0.29 1.88 $ 22.23 $ 46,240


Map of annual mean wages of camera operators, television, video, and film by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 260 0.13 0.81 $ 48.71 $ 101,310
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,500 0.27 1.75 $ 47.73 $ 99,280
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 500 0.23 1.46 $ 40.67 $ 84,590
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 640 0.21 1.37 $ 40.13 $ 83,470
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 350 0.13 0.82 $ 39.98 $ 83,160
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 30 0.11 0.71 $ 39.82 $ 82,820
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 120 0.08 0.52 $ 38.97 $ 81,050
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (8) (8) (8) $ 36.80 $ 76,540
Raleigh, NC 50 0.08 0.50 $ 35.22 $ 73,260
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 50 0.05 0.29 $ 35.16 $ 73,140

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 40 0.38 2.48 $ 18.96 $ 39,440
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.09 0.61 $ 16.23 $ 33,760
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 40 0.17 1.10 $ 39.93 $ 83,060
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 40 0.52 3.35 $ 23.04 $ 47,910

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 40 0.52 3.35 $ 23.04 $ 47,910
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 40 0.38 2.48 $ 18.96 $ 39,440
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 40 0.17 1.10 $ 39.93 $ 83,060
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.09 0.61 $ 16.23 $ 33,760

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 40 0.17 1.10 $ 39.93 $ 83,060
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 40 0.52 3.35 $ 23.04 $ 47,910
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 40 0.38 2.48 $ 18.96 $ 39,440
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.09 0.61 $ 16.23 $ 33,760


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023