Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Career, Salary and Skills
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $74,990 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 21,550. Wage data is published for 117 locations.
Occupation description
Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.
O*NET code
27-4031.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$74,990
Hourly median
$36.05
Employment
21,550
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$38,520
10th
$50,920
25th
$74,990
Median
$106,660
75th
$135,180
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Coordination | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.50 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
- Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
- Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.
- Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
- Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
- Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
- Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
- Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Apple Final Cut Studio
- Avid Technology audio visual editing software
- DaVinci Resolve
- Email software
- Google Drive
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in CAMedian $106,900 · Employment 4,700
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $107,620 · Employment 3,540
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in New York, NYMedian $93,410 · Employment 3,000
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in NYMedian $93,410 · Employment 2,930
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in TXMedian $63,110 · Employment 1,100
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in ILMedian $100,170 · Employment 1,060
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in FLMedian $62,220 · Employment 970
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $102,370 · Employment 740
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in PAMedian $51,760 · Employment 670
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in GAMedian $85,050 · Employment 570
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in OHMedian $64,860 · Employment 520
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in AZMedian $68,250 · Employment 520
Related careers
- Calibration Technologists and TechniciansNational median $67,820
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $78,190
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersNational median $65,380
- Robotics TechniciansNational median $73,900
- Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and RepairersNational median $63,520
- Producers and DirectorsNational median $90,360
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentNational median $74,090
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansNational median $82,890
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.