Post job

Cameraman vs news camera operator

The differences between cameramen and news camera operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a news camera operator has an average salary of $77,873, 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 news camera operator are video packages, news stories, and live broadcasts.

Cameraman vs news camera operator overview

CameramanNews Camera Operator
Yearly salary$69,673$77,873
Hourly rate$33.50$37.44
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs7527,307
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age3737
Years of experience--

Cameraman vs news camera operator salary

Cameramen and news camera operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

CameramanNews Camera Operator
Average salary$69,673$77,873
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $112,000Between $50,000 And $119,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between cameraman and news camera operator education

There are a few differences between a cameraman and a news camera operator in terms of educational background:

CameramanNews Camera Operator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorPhotographyCommunication
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityNew York University

Cameraman vs news camera operator demographics

Here are the differences between cameramen' and news camera operators' demographics:

CameramanNews Camera Operator
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 94.3% Female, 5.7%Male, 64.0% Female, 36.0%
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, 6.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between cameraman and news camera operator 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

News camera operator example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate with other camera operators and photography director to ensure professional video footage.
  • Mail tapes, progress reports, production notes and footage to MTV's NY office.

Cameraman vs news camera operator skills

Common cameraman skills
  • Music Videos, 24%
  • Camera Equipment, 15%
  • Video Production, 9%
  • Photography, 6%
  • Football Games, 3%
  • B-Roll, 3%
Common news camera operator skills
  • Video Packages, 48%
  • News Stories, 21%
  • Live Broadcasts, 17%
  • Audio Operators, 14%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs