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Camera operator salary
Average camera operator salary
$43,609
Understanding Camera Operator Salaries
The average salary for a camera operator is $43,609 per year, translating to approximately $21 per hour. Salary can vary significantly based on factors such as location, industry, and experience level. For instance, camera operators working in metropolitan areas tend to earn higher wages due to increased demand. Additionally, those with specialized skills in live broadcasting or film production may also see elevated pay rates.
Highest Paying States
States like California and New York consistently rank as the highest paying regions for camera operators. In these states, salaries can exceed the national average, reflecting the thriving entertainment industry and greater opportunities for experienced professionals.
Industry Insights
Camera operators find employment across various sectors, including film, television, and corporate video production. Each industry offers unique salary ranges, with film production often providing the most lucrative positions. By staying informed about industry trends and networking within the field, camera operators can improve their earning potential and job prospects.
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Where can a Camera Operator earn more?
Camera operator salary estimates from across the web
Average camera operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for camera operators are New York, California, and New Mexico. The lowest average camera operator salary states are Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for camera operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $63,438 | $30.50 |
| 2 | California | $60,272 | $28.98 |
| 3 | Texas | $53,963 | $25.94 |
| 4 | Alaska | $48,773 | $23.45 |
| 5 | Michigan | $51,571 | $24.79 |
| 6 | Arkansas | $50,735 | $24.39 |
| 7 | Maryland | $47,968 | $23.06 |
| 8 | Utah | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| 9 | Nevada | $52,729 | $25.35 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $54,709 | $26.30 |
| 11 | Oregon | $46,037 | $22.13 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $46,699 | $22.45 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $42,977 | $20.66 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $43,175 | $20.76 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $46,008 | $22.12 |
| 16 | Ohio | $42,552 | $20.46 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $43,518 | $20.92 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $42,188 | $20.28 |
| 19 | Arizona | $42,407 | $20.39 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $41,236 | $19.82 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $46,264 | $22.24 |
| 22 | Washington | $44,049 | $21.18 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $41,481 | $19.94 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $40,818 | $19.62 |
| 25 | Colorado | $41,197 | $19.81 |
| 26 | Virginia | $40,555 | $19.50 |
| 27 | Iowa | $40,265 | $19.36 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $40,393 | $19.42 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $40,997 | $19.71 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $36,467 | $17.53 |
| 31 | Florida | $39,724 | $19.10 |
| 32 | Montana | $42,722 | $20.54 |
| 33 | Idaho | $41,738 | $20.07 |
| 34 | Missouri | $40,704 | $19.57 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $38,769 | $18.64 |
| 36 | Kansas | $40,498 | $19.47 |
| 37 | Illinois | $40,775 | $19.60 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $39,389 | $18.94 |
| 39 | Vermont | $37,296 | $17.93 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $41,267 | $19.84 |
| 41 | Alabama | $36,675 | $17.63 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $36,205 | $17.41 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $37,199 | $17.88 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $37,224 | $17.90 |
| 45 | Delaware | $39,693 | $19.08 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $33,289 | $16.00 |
| 47 | Indiana | $37,136 | $17.85 |
| 48 | Georgia | $33,031 | $15.88 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $33,779 | $16.24 |
| 50 | Maine | $32,005 | $15.39 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $35,641 | $17.14 |
Highest paying cities for camera operators
The highest-paying cities for camera operators are New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, and Dallas, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $63,756 | $30.65 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $59,822 | $28.76 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $53,037 | $25.50 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,491 | $25.24 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $51,802 | $24.90 |
| 6 | Rogers, AR | $50,745 | $24.40 |
| 7 | Annapolis, MD | $48,088 | $23.12 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $46,172 | $22.20 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,593 | $21.44 |
| 10 | Auburn, WA | $44,433 | $21.36 |
| 11 | Manheim, PA | $42,457 | $20.41 |
| 12 | Hamilton, OH | $41,542 | $19.97 |
| 13 | Joplin, MO | $40,986 | $19.70 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $40,805 | $19.62 |
| 15 | Rock Hill, SC | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| 16 | Sioux City, IA | $40,484 | $19.46 |
| 17 | Norfolk, VA | $40,446 | $19.45 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $40,186 | $19.32 |
| 19 | Dover, NH | $39,595 | $19.04 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $38,673 | $18.59 |
Camera operator salary details
A camera operator's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $74,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a camera operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| Average | $43,609 | $3,634 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying camera operator jobs
The highest paying types of camera operators are executive producer, senior producer, and producer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video Producer | $58,612 | $4,884 | $28.18 | 10,484 |
| Video Production Internship | $33,585 | $2,799 | $16.15 | 105,041 |
| News Producer | $54,608 | $4,551 | $26.25 | 11,336 |
| Web Producer | $68,376 | $5,698 | $32.87 | 17,519 |
| Audio Visual Technician | $43,529 | $3,627 | $20.93 | 15,387 |
| Freelance Photographer | $42,949 | $3,579 | $20.65 | 1,766 |
Top companies hiring camera operators now:
Which companies pay camera operators the most?
Camera operator salaries at Apple and Ilitch Holdings are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average camera operator salary at companies like Univision Communications and NBCUniversal are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $91,798 | $44.13 |
| 2 | Ilitch Holdings | $64,232 | $30.88 |
| 3 | Univision Communications | $55,946 | $26.90 |
| 4 | NBCUniversal | $53,644 | $25.79 |
| 5 | Fox News | $51,408 | $24.72 |
| 6 | Prairie Meadows | $47,171 | $22.68 |
| 7 | Qualcomm | $46,804 | $22.50 |
| 8 | Morton High School | $43,462 | $20.90 |
| 9 | BuzzFeed | $42,803 | $20.58 |
| 10 | Globalcitizen | $41,428 | $19.92 |
| 11 | MaxMedia | $40,220 | $19.34 |
| 12 | WarnerMedia | $40,188 | $19.32 |
| 13 | Synergy Sports Technology | $40,174 | $19.31 |
| 14 | Emerald Downs | $38,908 | $18.71 |
| 15 | City of Dover | $38,237 | $18.38 |
| 16 | WMSN FOX 47 News, Madison | $38,053 | $18.29 |
| 17 | Warner Bros. | $37,012 | $17.79 |
| 18 | Nexstar Media Group | $36,841 | $17.71 |
| 19 | Eastridge Workforce Solutions | $35,890 | $17.25 |
| 20 | Hearst | $29,142 | $14.01 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Camera Operator salary by industry
The average camera operator salary varies across industries:
- The average camera operator salary in the education industry is $44,733, the highest of any industry.
- The average camera operator salary in the finance industry is $44,187.
- Camera operators in the retail industry earn an average salary of $39,657, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for camera operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $44,733 | $21.51 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $44,187 | $21.24 |
| 3 | Media | $40,344 | $19.40 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $40,236 | $19.34 |
| 5 | Retail | $39,657 | $19.07 |
High paying camera operator jobs
Camera operator salary trends
The average camera operator salary has risen by $12,983 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average camera operator earned $30,626 annually, but today, they earn $43,609 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for camera operators over the last decade.
Compare camera operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average camera operator salary over time
Compare camera operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Camera operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,600 | $20.97 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $42,100 | $20.22 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $41,600 | $20.00 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $40,800 | $19.63 | -2.9% |
| 2021 | $42,000 | $20.19 | +10.9% |
Recently added camera operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jubilee Media | Freelance Camera Operator/G&E | Los Angeles, CA | 06/22/2025 | $104,350 |
| Prairie Meadows | TV Camera Operator | Altoona, IA | 06/16/2025 | $34,436 |
| Sportradar | Camera Operator | Rockford, IL | 06/10/2025 | $52,175 |
| Fanduel Sports Network | ENG Camera Operator | Los Angeles, CA | 06/08/2025 | $85,275 |
| Prairie Meadows | TV Camera Operator | Altoona, IA | 05/29/2025 | $34,436 |
| JBS USA | Grade and Yield Input/Camera Operator B Shift | Greeley, CO | 05/26/2025 | $48,523 |
| Sportradar | Camera Operator | Rockford, IL | 05/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Sportradar | Camera Operator | Rockford, IL | 04/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Southwestern Law School | Camera Operator for Law Lectures | Los Angeles, CA | 04/26/2025 | $48,001 |
| Triple Crown Sports | Camera Operator | Bryan, TX | 04/24/2025 | $65,219 |
Camera operator salary FAQs
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