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The differences between camera operators and audio visual specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an audio visual specialist has an average salary of $50,127, which is higher than the $43,609 average annual salary of a camera operator.
The top three skills for a camera operator include video production, camera equipment and camera operation. The most important skills for an audio visual specialist are visualization, video production, and unity.
| Camera Operator | Audio Visual Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $43,609 | $50,127 |
| Hourly rate | $20.97 | $24.10 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 26,006 | 31,773 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A camera operator is responsible for operating various technical equipment to support technical operations, such as media productions and live events. Camera operators must have extensive knowledge of different camera features to select the appropriate device and manage the production's overall visual presentation. They also deliver the perfect footage on different angles for easy editing techniques alongside the technical crews and director's supervision. A camera operator should be communicative, as well as having excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills to adhere to the demands of production and schedules.
Audiovisual specialists are skilled professionals who focus on the effective operation of audiovisual systems and technology. These specialists are required to maintain and troubleshoot audio, video, and lighting equipment that are used in broadcasts and recordings. They must connect, tune, and configure audio-video setups to ensure high-quality broadcasting while operating software to control the AV technologies. Audiovisual specialists must also monitor live feeds as well as prepare teleprompters with scripts.
Camera operators and audio visual specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Camera Operator | Audio Visual Specialist | |
| Average salary | $43,609 | $50,127 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $74,000 | Between $32,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a camera operator and an audio visual specialist in terms of educational background:
| Camera Operator | Audio Visual Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Photography | Business |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between camera operators' and audio visual specialists' demographics:
| Camera Operator | Audio Visual Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.2% Female, 22.8% | Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |