Camera operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$46.28 per hour

$96,271 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$33.86 per hour

$70,432 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$23.93 per hour

$49,770 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$16.91 per hour

$35,169 per year

10th percentile

Starting level camera operator earnings begin at:

$12.37 per hour

$25,730 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Camera operator salary by state

State Name Average Salary
District of Columbia $81,420
New York $80,570
Oregon $69,200
California $67,510
New Mexico $65,180
Washington $64,440
Arkansas $63,420
New Jersey $61,990
Hawaii $59,780
Georgia $59,110
Texas $57,360
Ohio $55,870
Virginia $55,190
Colorado $54,290
Maryland $54,120
Michigan $53,120
Utah $52,440
Arizona $52,259
Mississippi $50,890
North Carolina $50,890
Florida $50,420
Nevada $49,770
Alabama $48,350
Tennessee $48,290
Wyoming $47,590
Missouri $47,280
Pennsylvania $46,350
Illinois $44,589
Kansas $44,510
Puerto Rico $43,650
Wisconsin $42,550
Louisiana $41,250
North Dakota $41,120
Minnesota $40,900
Connecticut $39,630
West Virginia $39,120
Indiana $38,729
Oklahoma $38,350
Massachusetts $38,110
Kentucky $37,402
Vermont $36,950
Iowa $36,690
Maine $35,950
Montana $32,480
Nebraska $30,720
South Carolina $29,510
South Dakota $28,830
New Hampshire $27,450
Guam $22,150

How do camera operator salaries compare to similar careers?

Camera operators earn 6% less than similar careers in Nevada. On average, they make less than talent directors but more than television writers.

Career Median Salary
Talent director salary $61K
Producer salary $61K
Filmmaker salary $61K
Multimedia animator salary $61K
Court reporter salary $60K
Camera operator salary $50K
Interior designer salary $55K
Talent agent salary $48K
Graphic designer salary $49K
Television writer salary $52K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)