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The differences between news photographers and camera operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a news photographer has an average salary of $76,014, which is higher than the $43,609 average annual salary of a camera operator.
The top three skills for a news photographer include HD, video cameras and general assignment. The most important skills for a camera operator are video production, camera equipment, and camera operation.
| News Photographer | Camera Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $76,014 | $43,609 |
| Hourly rate | $36.55 | $20.97 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 7,850 | 26,006 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A news photographer is responsible for capturing images and videos ranging from small occasions and conferences to critical society events, ensuring the accurate snapshots of all details for reports and publishing purposes. Aside from having excellent photography skills, a news photographer should also have outstanding communication and technical skills, especially in editing photos through software programs and applications. A news photographer usually works out in the field, depending on the assigned area by the management or as the business requires.
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.
News photographers and camera operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| News Photographer | Camera Operator | |
| Average salary | $76,014 | $43,609 |
| Salary range | Between $17,000 And $329,000 | Between $25,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a news photographer and a camera operator in terms of educational background:
| News Photographer | Camera Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Communication | Photography |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between news photographers' and camera operators' demographics:
| News Photographer | Camera Operator | |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.4% Female, 17.6% | Male, 77.2% Female, 22.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 7.0% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |