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Cameraman vs cinematographer

The differences between cameramen and cinematographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cinematographer has an average salary of $72,245, which is higher than the $69,673 average annual salary of a cameraman.

The top three skills for a cameraman include music videos, camera equipment and video production. The most important skills for a cinematographer are video production, cinema, and music videos.

Cameraman vs cinematographer overview

CameramanCinematographer
Yearly salary$69,673$72,245
Hourly rate$33.50$34.73
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs755,748
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3737
Years of experience--

Cameraman vs cinematographer salary

Cameramen and cinematographers have different pay scales, as shown below.

CameramanCinematographer
Average salary$69,673$72,245
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $112,000Between $43,000 And $118,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between cameraman and cinematographer education

There are a few differences between a cameraman and a cinematographer in terms of educational background:

CameramanCinematographer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorPhotographyPhotography
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityJohns Hopkins University

Cameraman vs cinematographer demographics

Here are the differences between cameramen' and cinematographers' demographics:

CameramanCinematographer
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 94.3% Female, 5.7%Male, 85.3% Female, 14.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.1% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 7.1% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between cameraman and cinematographer duties and responsibilities

Cameraman example responsibilities.

  • Film b-roll scenes of a high school graduation ceremony
  • Work with director and director of photography on framing.
  • Play a lead role on shoots as ENG cameraman.
  • Operate HD camera on various hunts for promotional purposes.
  • Operate video camera and other relate equipment on live reports.
  • Film college sporting events which include football, basketball, and volleyball.
  • Show more

Cinematographer example responsibilities.

  • Manage equipment setup and on-site DVD sales.
  • Manage all principal photography and editing.
  • Used DSLR, macro, and underwater camera equipment to film wildlife in wood settings.
  • Create promotional videos for viewing on the Lily.B website, Facebook, YouTube, and other social networking sites.
  • Work together with DP Brian Hwang
  • Produce documentaries, reality shows and live events.
  • Show more

Cameraman vs cinematographer skills

Common cameraman skills
  • Music Videos, 24%
  • Camera Equipment, 15%
  • Video Production, 9%
  • Photography, 6%
  • Football Games, 3%
  • B-Roll, 3%
Common cinematographer skills
  • Video Production, 15%
  • Cinema, 11%
  • Music Videos, 11%
  • DSLR, 10%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 7%
  • Photography, 6%

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