How much does a camera operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $36.05 an hour or $6,249 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.05
- Average (mean)
- $83,210
- Jobs
- 21,550
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,520 | $18.52 | |
| 25th | $50,920 | $24.48 | |
| Median | $74,990 | $36.05 | |
| 75th | $106,700 | $51.28 | |
| 90th | $135,200 | $64.99 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $106,900 |
| Illinois | $100,200 |
| 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 |
| Connecticut | $65,630 |
| Ohio | $64,860 |
| Texas | $63,110 |
| North Carolina | $62,720 |
| Florida | $62,220 |
| Nevada | $62,110 |
| Alabama | $61,800 |
| Massachusetts | $61,320 |
| Kansas | $60,690 |
| Washington | $60,250 |
| Louisiana | $58,440 |
| Virginia | $58,440 |
| Idaho | $58,140 |
| South Carolina | $57,940 |
| Iowa | $57,220 |
| Tennessee | $57,030 |
| Indiana | $56,810 |
| Michigan | $55,290 |
| Kentucky | $53,790 |
| North Dakota | $53,650 |
| Wisconsin | $52,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,760 |
| Minnesota | $51,420 |
| Montana | $50,910 |
| Mississippi | $49,920 |
| Rhode Island | $49,790 |
| New Mexico | $49,050 |
| Arkansas | $48,680 |
| Oklahoma | $48,620 |
| Vermont | $46,350 |
| Nebraska | $46,180 |
| New Hampshire | $45,880 |
| Hawaii | $44,230 |
| South Dakota | $44,160 |
| West Virginia | $43,390 |
| Maine | $37,590 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Los Angeles, CA | $107,600 |
| Chicago, IL | $102,400 |
| San Francisco, CA | $98,500 |
| New York, NY | $93,410 |
| Sacramento, CA | $84,870 |
| Anchorage, AK | $83,620 |
| Washington, DC | $83,320 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $80,380 |
| Fresno, CA | $80,030 |
| Rochester, NY | $76,700 |
| Atlanta, GA | $76,250 |
| Denver, CO | $74,990 |
| Austin, TX | $74,710 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $73,710 |
| Columbus, OH | $72,540 |
In other countries
Camera Operator belongs to the international group "Broadcasting and audiovisual technicians".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Audio and Video Technician$58,100
- Broadcast Technician$59,570
- Sound Engineering Technician$73,130
- Lighting Technician$68,060
- Photographer$44,660
- Film and Video Editor$75,420
- Media and Communication Equipment Worker$70,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a camera operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $36.05 ($74,990 a year).
How much does a camera operator make a month?
About $6,249 a month before tax, based on a median of $74,990 a year.
How much does a camera operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,520 or less a year ($18.52 an hour); the top 10% make $135,200 or more.
Which state pays camera operators the most?
California, with a median of $106,900 a year, followed by Illinois ($100,200) and District of Columbia ($98,300).
Which city pays camera operators the most?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with a median of $107,600 a year.
How many camera operators are there in the United States?
About 21,550 people work as camera operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.