Motion Picture Projectionists Career, Salary and Skills
Motion Picture Projectionists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $38,270 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 1,480. Wage data is published for 15 locations.
Occupation description
Set up and operate motion picture projection and related sound reproduction equipment.
O*NET code
39-3021.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$38,270
Hourly median
$18.40
Employment
1,480
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$23,390
10th
$30,040
25th
$38,270
Median
$77,730
75th
$88,310
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Operation and Control | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.88 | 2.25 |
| Monitoring | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.88 | 2.25 |
Typical tasks
- Start projectors and open shutters to project images onto screens.
- Open and close facilities according to rules and schedules.
- Operate equipment to show films in a number of theaters simultaneously.
- Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as rotating or replacing xenon bulbs, cleaning projectors and lenses, lubricating machinery, and keeping electrical contacts clean and tight.
- Set up and adjust picture projectors and screens to achieve proper size, illumination, and focus of images, and proper volume and tone of sound.
- Inspect projection equipment prior to operation to ensure proper working order.
- Perform minor repairs, such as replacing worn sprockets, or notify maintenance personnel of the need for major repairs.
- Monitor operations to ensure that standards for sound and image projection quality are met.
Technology
- Apple macOS
- Audio calibration software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Avid Technology iNEWS
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Web browser software
Motion Picture Projectionists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in NYMedian $82,260 · Employment 270
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in New York, NYMedian $82,270 · Employment 230
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in CAMedian $74,840 · Employment 190
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in IAMedian $23,210 · Employment 100
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $92,180 · Employment 100
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in TNMedian $22,750 · Employment 90
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in WAMedian $39,070 · Employment 60
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in OHMedian $36,870 · Employment 50
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in TXMedian $31,160 · Employment 40
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in PAMedian $29,850 · Employment 40
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in ILMedian $78,990 · Employment —
- Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in AZMedian $32,890 · Employment —
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.