How much does a camera operator make in San Francisco?
$98,500a year
Median yearly pay for camera operators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $47.36 an hour or $8,208 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.36
- Vs. national median
- +31%
- Rank among cities
- 3 of 71
- Jobs in the area
- 280
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $62,850Median: $98,500Highest 10%: $155,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,850 | $30.22 | |
| 25th | $66,340 | $31.89 | |
| Median | $98,500 | $47.36 | |
| 75th | $126,900 | $61.00 | |
| 90th | $155,900 | $74.94 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for camera operators.
| Los Angeles, CA | $107,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $84,870 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $71,390 |
| San Diego, CA | $56,580 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $165,200 |
| Musician and Singer | $157,600 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $136,800 |
| Technical Writer | $135,500 |
| Producer and Director | $130,600 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $129,300 |
| Fine Artist | $126,500 |
| Music Director and Composer | $113,000 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Worker | $110,800 |
| Film and Video Editor | $109,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a camera operator make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $47.36 ($98,500 a year).
Do camera operators make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $98,500 against $74,990 nationally, 31% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $106,900, so San Francisco pays 8% less.
Where does San Francisco rank for camera operator pay?
3 of 71 metro areas with data.
How much does a camera operator make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $62,850 or less a year; the top 10% make $155,900 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.