Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,520
- 25th Percentile — Junior$50,920
- 50th Percentile — Median$74,990
- 75th Percentile — Senior$106,660
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$135,180
The top 10% of Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture earn $135,180 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $38,520, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey (est.) | $106,509 | +28.0% |
| California | $106,350 | +27.8% |
| District of Columbia | $100,990 | +21.4% |
| New York | $99,080 | +19.1% |
| Georgia | $97,600 | +17.3% |
| Illinois | $96,520 | +16.0% |
| Arizona | $94,680 | +13.8% |
| Oregon (est.) | $93,195 | +12.0% |
| Delaware (est.) | $87,370 | +5.0% |
| Colorado | $81,310 | -2.3% |
| Massachusetts | $79,290 | -4.7% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $77,385 | -7.0% |
| Utah | $75,460 | -9.3% |
| Washington | $73,900 | -11.2% |
| Missouri (est.) | $72,393 | -13.0% |
| Florida | $71,320 | -14.3% |
| Maryland | $70,570 | -15.2% |
| Alaska | $69,770 | -16.2% |
| North Carolina | $68,820 | -17.3% |
| Ohio | $68,690 | -17.4% |
| Connecticut | $67,680 | -18.7% |
| Nevada | $67,540 | -18.8% |
| Tennessee | $67,350 | -19.1% |
| Minnesota | $66,800 | -19.7% |
| Texas | $66,720 | -19.8% |
| Virginia | $66,460 | -20.1% |
| Vermont | $64,740 | -22.2% |
| Kansas | $63,870 | -23.2% |
| Louisiana | $61,710 | -25.8% |
| Idaho | $60,460 | -27.3% |
| Alabama | $59,130 | -28.9% |
| South Carolina | $58,850 | -29.3% |
| Michigan | $58,780 | -29.4% |
| Maine | $58,270 | -30.0% |
| Iowa | $58,250 | -30.0% |
| Oklahoma | $57,800 | -30.5% |
| Indiana | $57,550 | -30.8% |
| New Mexico | $57,300 | -31.1% |
| North Dakota | $56,930 | -31.6% |
| Rhode Island | $55,880 | -32.8% |
| Wisconsin | $55,880 | -32.8% |
| Arkansas | $55,740 | -33.0% |
| Kentucky | $55,460 | -33.3% |
| Mississippi | $55,450 | -33.4% |
| Pennsylvania | $53,660 | -35.5% |
| New Hampshire | $51,780 | -37.8% |
| South Dakota | $50,620 | -39.2% |
| West Virginia | $50,280 | -39.6% |
| Hawaii | $48,830 | -41.3% |
| Nebraska | $47,990 | -42.3% |
| Montana | $47,260 | -43.2% |
What Factors Affect Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $106,350, while Montana pays $47,260 — a gap of $59,090 per year.
The middle half of Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture earn between $50,920 and $106,660 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,520, while the top 10% earn more than $135,180.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture?
The average salary for Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture in the United States is $83,210 per year, with a median of $74,990.
What is the starting salary for Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture?
Entry-level Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture typically earn between $38,520 and $50,920 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture the most?
California pays Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture the most at $106,350 per year on average, followed by District of Columbia ($100,990) and New York ($99,080).
How much do Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $83,210, Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture earn approximately $40.0 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 21,550 Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $83,210 and a median of $74,990 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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