Skip to content
TryHired.
Role hub · Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Camera Operator: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

Maid DizdarevicCareer coach · 8x LinkedIn Top Voice
Updated Nov 2, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
Pay ladder · select a percentile
Median percentile pay

Half of camera operators earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$74,990
Hourly
$36.05
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Camera Operators operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions. The median pay is $74,990 a year ($36.05 an hour) (BLS, May 2025). The most commonly reported education requirement is an associate's degree (61% of workers surveyed by O*NET).

Median pay
$74,990
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
21,550
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 3 of 5
medium preparation
Most common education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
61% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (O*NET-SOC 27-4031.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

Key facts

Camera Operators at a glance

  • Workers in the BLS occupation “Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film” in the United States earned a median annual wage of $74,990 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

  • In its 2025–35 employment projections, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for workers in the BLS occupation “Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film” in the United States.

    Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35

  • BLS projects employment of workers in the BLS occupation “Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film” in the United States to grow 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,500 openings a year on average, including replacement openings.

    Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35

  • BLS estimated that 21,550 people were employed in the BLS occupation “Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film” in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.

    Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

Explore the role

Every page for Camera Operators

SalaryCamera Operator salary

Pay by percentile, state and metro, with a negotiation script.

Open →How to becomeCamera Operator how to become

Education, training and the skills to build first.

Open →Free toolCheck your resume

Parsed text, evidence per bullet, fixes first.

Open →
The work

What camera operators do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
  2. Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
  3. Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
  4. Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
  5. Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
  6. Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
  7. Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
  8. Test, clean, maintain, and repair broadcast equipment, including testing microphones, to ensure proper working condition.
Where this career works

Industries that employ it

Data Share of all camera operator jobs in each industry, 2025 (BLS Employment Matrix).

  1. Motion picture and sound recording industries21.2% of all jobs in this occupation · +3.1% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $95,920
  2. Broadcasting and Content Providers12.8% of all jobs in this occupation · -3.2% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $71,140
  3. Professional, scientific, and technical services8.3% of all jobs in this occupation · +0.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $80,440
  4. Administrative and support services5.1% of all jobs in this occupation · -4.6% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $113,760
  5. Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries4.0% of all jobs in this occupation · +1.3% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $63,940
  6. Educational services; state, local, and private3.2% of all jobs in this occupation · -1.3% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $55,920

Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.

Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

Active ListeningcoreCoordinationcoreJudgment and Decision MakingcoreReading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessTime ManagementCritical ThinkingMonitoring

Knowledge areas: English Language, Computers and Electronics, Communications and Media, Telecommunications.

Tools and technology

Software camera operators use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • Adobe After EffectsVideo creation and editing softwareIn demand
  • Adobe Creative Cloud softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareIn demand
  • Adobe IllustratorGraphics or photo imaging softwareIn demand
  • Adobe PhotoshopGraphics or photo imaging softwareIn demand
  • TikTokVideo creation and editing softwareIn demand
  • Adobe Premiere ProVideo creation and editing softwareIn demand
  • Apple Final Cut ProVideo creation and editing softwareIn demand
  • Video editing softwareVideo creation and editing softwareIn demand
  • Adobe InDesignDesktop publishing softwareHot technology
  • Adobe DreamweaverWeb page creation and editing software
  • Apple Final Cut StudioVideo creation and editing software
  • Avid Technology audio visual editing softwareVideo creation and editing software

Also called: Cameraman, Master Control Operator (MCO), News Videographer, Production Technician, Studio Camera Operator.

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the cosine similarity of the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level and subtract the average across all occupations, then compare the direction of the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 means unrelated or opposite (negative values are shown as 0). Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).

How TryHired builds this data: sources, methods and downloads. Spotted an error? Report a correction.