SOC 27-4031 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$74,990

U.S. median hourly wage$36.05

U.S. employment21,550

Nationally, camera operators, television, video, and film earned a median of $74,990 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 21,550 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: pay and employment by state
State
California	$106,900	$51.39	4,700	0.3
Illinois	$100,170	$48.16	1,060	0.2
District of Columbia	$98,300	$47.26	240	0.3
New York	$93,410	$44.91	2,930	0.3
Georgia	$85,050	$40.89	570	0.1
Alaska	$83,620	$40.20	50	0.1
Colorado	$74,990	$36.05	300	0.1
Utah	$73,450	$35.31	240	0.1
Arizona	$68,250	$32.81	520	0.2
Maryland	$65,870	$31.67	290	0.1
Connecticut	$65,630	$31.55	170	0.1
Ohio	$64,860	$31.18	520	0.1
Texas	$63,110	$30.34	1,100	0.1
North Carolina	$62,720	$30.15	380	0.1
Florida	$62,220	$29.91	970	0.1
Nevada	$62,110	$29.86	320	0.2
Alabama	$61,800	$29.71	220	0.1
Massachusetts	$61,320	$29.48	370	0.1
Kansas	$60,690	$29.18	110	0.1
Washington	$60,250	$28.97	440	0.1
Louisiana	$58,440	$28.10	270	0.1
Virginia	$58,440	$28.10	420	0.1
Idaho	$58,140	$27.95	120	0.1
South Carolina	$57,940	$27.86	40	0.0
Iowa	$57,220	$27.51	90	0.1
Tennessee	$57,030	$27.42	460	0.1
Indiana	$56,810	$27.31	200	0.1
Michigan	$55,290	$26.58	380	0.1
Kentucky	$53,790	$25.86	170	0.1
North Dakota	$53,650	$25.79	40	0.1
Wisconsin	$52,810	$25.39	300	0.1
Pennsylvania	$51,760	$24.88	670	0.1
Minnesota	$51,420	$24.72	300	0.1
Montana	$50,910	$24.48	110	0.2
Mississippi	$49,920	$24.00	60	0.1
Rhode Island	$49,790	$23.94	50	0.1
New Mexico	$49,050	$23.58	290	0.3
Arkansas	$48,680	$23.40	60	0.0
Oklahoma	$48,620	$23.38	220	0.1
Vermont	$46,350	$22.29	130	0.4
Nebraska	$46,180	$22.20	100	0.1
New Hampshire	$45,880	$22.06	Not published	Not published
Hawaii	$44,230	$21.27	90	0.1
South Dakota	$44,160	$21.23	50	0.1
West Virginia	$43,390	$20.86	60	0.1
Puerto Rico	$38,380	$18.45	150	0.2
Maine	$37,590	$18.07	70	0.1
Missouri	Not published	Not published	170	0.1
New Jersey	Not published	Not published	750	0.2
Oregon	Not published	Not published	280	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 78 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$107,620	$51.74	3,540	0.6
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$102,370	$49.22	740	0.2
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$98,500	$47.35	280	0.1
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$93,410	$44.91	3,000	0.3
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$84,870	$40.81	50	0.0
Anchorage, AK	$83,620	$40.20	40	0.2
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$83,320	$40.06	500	0.2
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$80,380	$38.64	190	0.1
Fresno, CA	$80,030	$38.48	40	0.1
Rochester, NY	$76,700	$36.88	50	0.1
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$76,250	$36.66	360	0.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$74,990	$36.05	220	0.1
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$74,710	$35.92	210	0.2
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$73,710	$35.44	140	0.2
Columbus, OH	$72,540	$34.88	120	0.1
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$71,390	$34.32	50	0.2
St. Louis, MO-IL	$71,360	$34.31	70	0.1
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$71,080	$34.17	350	0.1
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$67,560	$32.48	40	0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$65,870	$31.67	150	0.1
Jacksonville, FL	$65,640	$31.56	60	0.1
Huntsville, AL	$65,530	$31.51	Not published	Not published
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$65,130	$31.31	110	0.1
Birmingham, AL	$64,730	$31.12	50	0.1
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$64,490	$31.00	60	0.1
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$64,380	$30.95	290	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$63,990	$30.76	Not published	Not published
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$63,970	$30.75	90	0.1
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$63,720	$30.64	60	0.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$63,230	$30.40	130	0.1
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$62,870	$30.23	220	0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$62,810	$30.20	210	0.1
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$62,720	$30.15	120	0.2
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$62,220	$29.91	330	0.1
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$62,110	$29.86	290	0.3
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$61,820	$29.72	320	0.2
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$61,500	$29.57	130	0.3
Kansas City, MO-KS	$61,150	$29.40	90	0.1
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$60,800	$29.23	250	0.2
Baton Rouge, LA	$60,320	$29.00	50	0.1
Worcester, MA	$59,760	$28.73	30	0.1
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$58,480	$28.11	80	0.1
Boise City, ID	$58,140	$27.95	90	0.2
Portland-South Portland, ME	$57,840	$27.81	30	0.1
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$57,690	$27.73	170	0.1
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$56,710	$27.27	60	0.1
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$56,580	$27.20	150	0.1
Richmond, VA	$55,120	$26.50	50	0.1
Cleveland, OH	$54,990	$26.44	60	0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$54,690	$26.29	70	0.2
Knoxville, TN	$53,180	$25.57	70	0.2
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$52,920	$25.44	130	0.2
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$52,720	$25.35	50	0.1
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$52,580	$25.28	40	0.1
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$52,040	$25.02	300	0.1
Bozeman, MT	$50,910	$24.48	Not published	Not published
Albuquerque, NM	$50,860	$24.45	100	0.3
Madison, WI	$50,680	$24.37	80	0.2
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$50,550	$24.30	60	0.1
Omaha, NE-IA	$49,680	$23.88	50	0.1
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$48,770	$23.45	60	0.1
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$48,680	$23.40	30	0.1
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$48,680	$23.40	50	0.1
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$46,350	$22.29	80	0.7
Oklahoma City, OK	$46,080	$22.15	100	0.1
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$45,820	$22.03	90	0.1
Urban Honolulu, HI	$44,230	$21.26	90	0.2
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$40,030	$19.25	60	0.2
Pittsburgh, PA	$38,630	$18.57	130	0.1
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$38,400	$18.46	110	0.2
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$36,230	$17.42	50	0.2
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	Not published	Not published	90	0.2
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	Not published	Not published	60	0.2
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	Not published	Not published	100	0.1
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	Not published	Not published	70	0.1
Syracuse, NY	Not published	Not published	60	0.2
Tucson, AZ	Not published	Not published	50	0.1
Tulsa, OK	Not published	Not published	70	0.1

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.