Careers / Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$40,610
United States, 2025
Employment
4,800
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.
- O*NET code
- 51-9151.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
- Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
- Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
- Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
- Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
- Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.
- Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes.
- Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$30,090
25th percentile
$35,170
75th percentile
$50,150
90th percentile
$68,800
Most important skills
- Operations Monitoring3.5
- Active Listening3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Speaking3.3
- Service Orientation3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Time Management3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 12 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
12
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.5 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
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Compare with Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine OperatorsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $60,320 | 50 | 2025 |
| NY | $57,760 | 400 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $56,550 | — | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $54,400 | 130 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $52,000 | 390 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | $50,740 | — | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $47,450 | 280 | 2025 |
| VA | $47,380 | 110 | 2025 |
| CA | $47,320 | 740 | 2025 |
| FL | $46,840 | 450 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $46,810 | 40 | 2025 |
| WI | $46,480 | 60 | 2025 |
| WA | $46,280 | 80 | 2025 |
| MD | $45,600 | 200 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $44,560 | 120 | 2025 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $43,490 | 40 | 2025 |
| IA | $43,310 | 90 | 2025 |
| NJ | $43,300 | 110 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | $43,240 | 60 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | $43,100 | 60 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.