Camera operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$34.71 per hour

$72,200 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$29.42 per hour

$61,200 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$22.88 per hour

$47,590 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$14.94 per hour

$31,070 per year

10th percentile

Starting level camera operator earnings begin at:

$12.26 per hour

$25,510 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Camera operator salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New Jersey $94,100
Connecticut $80,140
New York $80,010
District of Columbia $77,670
Maryland $62,120
Missouri $61,200
Washington $60,580
Colorado $60,360
Oregon $60,360
Arizona $59,980
Hawaii $59,960
California $54,420
Texas $54,090
Mississippi $53,550
Virginia $50,090
Minnesota $49,150
Illinois $49,070
Indiana $48,940
North Carolina $48,830
Alabama $48,750
Nebraska $48,590
Utah $48,510
Idaho $48,370
North Dakota $48,340
Kentucky $48,030
Florida $47,780
Wyoming $47,590
Arkansas $47,050
South Carolina $47,030
Oklahoma $46,150
Massachusetts $43,940
Kansas $41,920
Vermont $39,320
Georgia $38,920
Wisconsin $38,690
Michigan $38,550
South Dakota $38,210
New Hampshire $38,030
Ohio $37,890
Nevada $37,510
Pennsylvania $37,490
Louisiana $36,950
West Virginia $36,450
Maine $36,130
Guam $32,590
Tennessee $31,040
Montana $30,750
Iowa $30,430
Puerto Rico $30,070
New Mexico $22,990

How do camera operator salaries compare to similar careers?

Camera operators earn 8% more than similar careers in Wyoming. On average, they make less than filmmakers but more than announcers.

Career Median Salary
Filmmaker salary $46K
Casting director salary $46K
Film director salary $46K
Television writer salary $44K
Art therapist salary $47K
Camera operator salary $48K
Graphic designer salary $38K
Museum conservator salary $35K
Photographer salary $28K
Announcer salary $29K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)