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The differences between camera operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a camera operator has an average salary of $43,609, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.
The top three skills for a camera operator include video production, camera equipment and camera operation. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| Camera Operator | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,609 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $20.97 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 26,006 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 37 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
Camera operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Camera Operator | Operator | |
| Average salary | $43,609 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $74,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Apple | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a camera operator and an operator in terms of educational background:
| Camera Operator | Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Photography | Business |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | - |
Here are the differences between camera operators' and operators' demographics:
| Camera Operator | Operator | |
| Average age | 37 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.2% Female, 22.8% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| 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, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 4% |