Television, Video and Motion Picture Production Camera Operator Salary and Wage Information
| Wage Rate | Low (<10%) | Median (50%) | High (>90%) |
| Hourly Wage | $9.90 | $20.45 | $44.18 |
| Annual Wage | $20,600 | $51,500 | $119,900 |
- "Low (<10%)" indicates that 10% of workers earned less and 90% earned more.
- "Median (50%)" indicates that 50% of workers earned less and 50% earned more.
- "High (>90%)" indicates that 90% of workers earned less and 10% earned more.
- "N/A" indicates that data in not available
*The annual salary and wage data presented above represents U.S, Based workers with full-time employment and year-round schedules.
Additional Information
Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators capture footage to be used in a wide range of broadcast media, such as television shows, video productions, and motion pictures. The cameras they use require specialized training and knowledge to properly operate. Camera Operators typically work under a director, who organizes, plans, and designs the angles and shots of a production. Camera Operators must often choose the best equipment for a particular scene, such as lenses and lighting systems.The median annual wage for camera operators in the film, video and motion picture industries is approximately $51,500. The lowest ten percent of camera operators earn less than $25,700 a year, while the top ten percent earn more than $119,300 a year.