How to hire a video camera operator

How to hire a video camera operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step video camera operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a video camera operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new video camera operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the video camera operator you need to hire. Certain video camera operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a video camera operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a video camera operator that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of video camera operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Video Camera Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Video Camera Operator	Film and video editors and camera operators manipulate moving images that entertain or inform an audience.	$12-36
   Video Editor	A video editor edits and assembles recorded raw material into a finished product for broadcasting. Video editors manipulate and edit film pieces to become visible to the audience... Show more	$15-37
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Camera Operators
   • Visual Services
   • Video Production
   • Live Video
   • Photography
   • Live Events
   • Control Room
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Video Board
   • HD
   • ENG
   • Grip
   • DVD
   • Master Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate the administrative and technical aspects of a video teleconferencing center for clients ranging from civilian executives to four-star generals.
   • Mail tapes, progress reports, production notes and footage to MTV's NY office.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your video camera operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A video camera operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, video camera operators' average salary in maine is 54% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level video camera operators 67% less than senior-level video camera operators.
   • Certifications. A video camera operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a video camera operator's salary.

   Average video camera operator salary

   $44,412yearly

   $21.35 hourly rate

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   Entry-level video camera operator salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a video camera operator job description

   A job description for a video camera operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a video camera operator job description:

   Video camera operator job description example

   COVID\-19 continues to significantly impact our employees, families and communities\. With employee health and safety as our top priority, and as a federal contractor, Lockheed Martin is taking action to address the increased risk and uncertainty COVID\-19 variants pose in the workplace and ensuring we meet our commitments to national security\.
   
   To uphold safety for all employees, we will continue to request vaccination status for all Lockheed Martin employees including new hires\. All current and newly hired employees are required to follow onsite safety measures based upon the COVID\-19 Community Level at the specific work location\.
   
   **Description:** **The coolest jobs on this planet... or any other... are with Lockheed Martin Space**
   
   At the dawn of a new space age, Lockheed Martin is a pioneer, partner, innovator and builder\. Our amazing people are on a mission to make a difference in the world and every day we use our unique skills and experiences to create, design and build solutions to some of the worlds' hardest engineering problems\. Our culture encourages employees to dream big, perform with excellence and create incredible products\. We provide the resources, inspiration and focus and if you have the passion and courage to dream big, we want to build a better tomorrow with you\.
   
   Going to space is just the beginning\. It's what you do when you get there that matters\. Lockheed Martin builds the satellites and spacecraft that do amazing things in space for government and commercial customers\. Connecting people\. Advancing discovery\. And protecting what matters most\. Lockheed Martin\-built satellites give earlier warning of severe weather, connect troops on the battlefield, and deliver GPS directions to a billion people worldwide\.
   - - -
   
   **What does this role look like?**
   
   Are you excited by the challenge of shooting video to support the development and launch of spacecraft? Are you looking to grow as a media professional with a focus on camera operation within the corporate and industrial market? We're looking for a creative, self\-motivated Video Camera Operator to assist with the capture of content at Lockheed Martin Space\.
   
   - - -
   
   **This role will offer you the following daily challenges:**
   
   • Video production across a wide range of projects - spacecraft development and launches, executive interviews, technical documentation, and cinema shooting
   
   • Develop and implement best practices for the maintenance, storage, and capital planning of production investments - cameras, lights, audio
   
   • Work closely with Communications and Producers during pre\-production and production then participate during post\-production and delivery as needed
   
   • Manage day\-to\-day operations of production gear and infrastructure
   
   • Advise long\-term strategy to develop creative options for production and post\-production
   
   • Receive and implement feedback as part of a highly collaborative work environment
   
   **You'll also have opportunities to:**
   
   • Help shape the footprint of all technology within Visual Communications
   
   • Work with stakeholders to research, generate, and pitch creative strategy
   
   • Build a production capability of tools data that fosters collaboration
   
   • Mentor team members to develop their video production skills
   
   - - -
   
   **Although this position does support some teleworking; the preferred candidate will be located near our Lockheed Martin Space facility in Denver, Colorado , and be expected to work in the office as needed and as appropriate\.**
   
   **Basic Qualifications:**
   
   **To be successful, you will need to possess these basic qualifications:**
   
   • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college with five \(5\) years of professional experience; or three\(3\) years of experience required with a related Master's degree
   
   • Prior professional experience with video codecs, technology, and workflow; and use of essential production skills - composition, focus, color, ISO, etc\.
   
   **Desired Skills:**
   
   **To be successful, ideally, you should also have:**
   
   • Experience operating DSLR, ENG, Cinema, and hybrid cameras
   
   • Five \(5\) years of experience working within multiple production ecosystems
   
   • In\-depth knowledge of the Canon DSLR, ENG, and Cinema product lines
   
   • A love of brainstorming and creative collaboration
   
   • Body of work demonstrating passion for multiple shooting styles and genres
   
   • The ability to analyze our current state, a future state, and the gap that needs to close
   
   • Industry knowledge about current production offerings
   
   • Core philosophy based on speed, agility, flexibility, and resourcefulness
   
   • Proven ability to juggle multiple tasks and execute against multiple deadlines while paying close attention to detail
   
   • Drone operator certification
   
   - - -
   
   **PLEASE NOTE\-Other important information: **
   
   • By applying to this role, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities, within Lockheed Martin, where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match\.
   
   • Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings\.
   
   • Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information\.
   
   - - -
   
   **Benefits of Employment:**
   
   Our employees play an active role in strengthening the quality of life where we live and work by volunteering more than 850,000 hours annually\.
   
   **Learn more about Lockheed Martin's competitive and comprehensive benefits package here\.**
   
   - - -
   
   To promote the sharing of ideas, Lockheed Martin champions an inclusive work environment that urges differences and big\-picture thinking\.
   
   We are creating a better today and tomorrow by seamlessly aligning diversity and inclusion efforts with Lockheed Martin's values and business strategy\. We offer business resource groups such as African American Council for Excellence \(AACE\), The Women's Impact Network \(WIN\), Hispanic Organization for Leadership & Awareness \(HOLA\), Military/Veterans Network, PRIDE LGBT Professional Network, and more\. We are also committed to enabling transitioning veterans to connect with their communities and find new purpose as they reintegrate into civilian life\. By clicking on the links, you can find out more on how we proudly support Global Diversity and Hiring Our Heroes
   
   - - -
   
   At Space we value your skills, training, and education\. We believe that by applying the highest standards of business ethics and visionary thinking, everything is within our reach - and yours as a Lockheed Martin Space employee... join us to experience your future\!
   
   **BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:**
   
   job\.Qualifications
   
   **Lockheed Martin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer\. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status\.**
   
   Join us at Lockheed Martin, where your mission is ours\. Our customers tackle the hardest missions\. Those that demand extraordinary amounts of courage, resilience and precision\. They're dangerous\. Critical\. Sometimes they even provide an opportunity to change the world and save lives\. Those are the missions we care about\.
   
   As a leading technology innovation company, Lockheed Martin's vast team works with partners around the world to bring proven performance to our customers' toughest challenges\. Lockheed Martin has employees based in many states throughout the U\.S\., and Internationally, with business locations in many nations and territories\.
   
   **EXPERIENCE LEVEL:**
   
   Experienced Professional

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find video camera operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any video camera operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level video camera operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your video camera operator job on Zippia to find and recruit video camera operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit video camera operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new video camera operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the video camera operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new video camera operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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