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Film technician salary
Average film technician salary
$51,537
Film Technician Salary Overview
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Film Technician stands at $51,537 per year or about $25 per hour. This position plays a vital role in the film and production industries, involving various responsibilities such as equipment setup, maintenance, and on-set support. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience, location, and specific job roles.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience is a major factor in determining salary. Entry-level film technicians might earn less, while those with several years of experience may command higher pay. Additionally, certain states offer more competitive salaries due to the demand for skilled technicians. For example, states like California and New York tend to provide higher compensation due to their bustling film industries.
Salary by State
- California: $60,000
- New York: $55,000
- Texas: $50,000
Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers make informed decisions about their career paths in the film industry. For those looking to maximize their earning potential, focusing on roles in larger markets or gaining specialized skills can lead to better opportunities.
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Where can a Film Technician earn more?
Film technician salary estimates from across the web
Average film technician salary by state
The average film technician salary in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average film technician salary states are Illinois, Kansas, and Colorado.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for film technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $86,952 | $41.80 |
| 2 | Delaware | $85,511 | $41.11 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $84,299 | $40.53 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $86,070 | $41.38 |
| 5 | Vermont | $77,485 | $37.25 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $73,991 | $35.57 |
| 7 | Maryland | $83,252 | $40.02 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $81,883 | $39.37 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $64,255 | $30.89 |
| 10 | Alaska | $78,090 | $37.54 |
| 11 | Maine | $59,334 | $28.53 |
| 12 | Ohio | $74,287 | $35.71 |
| 13 | New York | $68,475 | $32.92 |
| 14 | Michigan | $59,857 | $28.78 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $82,233 | $39.54 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $67,183 | $32.30 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $65,233 | $31.36 |
| 18 | Nevada | $73,560 | $35.37 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $54,823 | $26.36 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $62,086 | $29.85 |
| 21 | Indiana | $52,986 | $25.47 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $64,829 | $31.17 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $57,874 | $27.82 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $50,315 | $24.19 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $51,974 | $24.99 |
| 26 | Florida | $47,988 | $23.07 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $54,561 | $26.23 |
| 28 | California | $62,623 | $30.11 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $47,316 | $22.75 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $52,852 | $25.41 |
| 31 | Iowa | $46,546 | $22.38 |
| 32 | Texas | $52,610 | $25.29 |
| 33 | Missouri | $45,942 | $22.09 |
| 34 | Montana | $54,364 | $26.14 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $46,636 | $22.42 |
| 36 | Arizona | $47,548 | $22.86 |
| 37 | Virginia | $50,418 | $24.24 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $45,323 | $21.79 |
| 39 | Georgia | $46,494 | $22.35 |
| 40 | Illinois | $43,691 | $21.01 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $45,372 | $21.81 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $48,265 | $23.20 |
| 43 | Kansas | $43,582 | $20.95 |
| 44 | Colorado | $43,084 | $20.71 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $44,552 | $21.42 |
| 46 | Utah | $43,849 | $21.08 |
| 47 | Oregon | $45,283 | $21.77 |
| 48 | Alabama | $37,465 | $18.01 |
| 49 | Idaho | $42,647 | $20.50 |
| 50 | Washington | $44,264 | $21.28 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $40,858 | $19.64 |
Highest paying cities for film technicians
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mankato, MN | $48,690 | $23.41 |
| 2 | Bellevue, WA | $44,151 | $21.23 |
Film technician salary details
A film technician's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $107,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a film technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $51,537 | $4,295 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying film technician jobs
The highest paying types of film technicians are developing machine operator, process line operator, and photographic process worker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retoucher | $51,538 | $4,295 | $24.78 | 135 |
| Photo Retoucher | $51,529 | $4,294 | $24.77 | 281 |
| Digital Retoucher | $51,547 | $4,296 | $24.78 | 16,110 |
Top companies hiring film technicians now:
Which companies pay film technicians the most?
Film technician salaries at SABIC Innovative Plastics and Techtronic Industries TTI are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average film technician salary at companies like Berry Global and R.M. Schulte & Associates are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SABIC Innovative Plastics | $86,958 | $41.81 |
| 2 | Techtronic Industries TTI | $63,007 | $30.29 |
| 3 | Berry Global | $28,685 | $13.79 |
| 4 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $26,052 | $12.53 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Film technician salary trends
The average film technician salary has risen by $17,605 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average film technician earned $33,932 annually, but today, they earn $51,537 a year. That works out to a 31% change in pay for film technicians over the last decade.
Compare film technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average film technician salary over time
Compare film technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Film technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,500 | $24.78 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | $47,900 | $23.04 | +9.6% |
| 2023 | $43,300 | $20.82 | +5.8% |
| 2022 | $40,800 | $19.61 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $39,300 | $18.89 | -0.5% |
Recently added film technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plascon | Blown Films Technician-Nights | Traverse City, MI | 06/21/2025 | $40,175 |
| Imemories | Film Ingest Technician | Scottsdale, AZ | 06/13/2025 | $35,479 |
| Ithaca College | Student-Filmer for Women's Lacrosse | Ithaca, NY | 02/17/2025 | $32,349 |
| Imemories Inc. | Film Ingest Technician | Scottsdale, AZ | 10/17/2024 | $35,479 |
| Volt | Senior Blown Film Technician | Del Mar, CA | 10/12/2023 | $75,000 |
| Sunsational Solutions | Window Film Technician | Austin, TX | 09/03/2023 | $30,000 |
Film technician salary FAQs
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