The average salary for a camera operator in the United States is around $74,990 per year.
Avg Salary
Camera operators earn an average yearly salary of $74,990.
Wages typically start from $38,520 and go up to $135,180.
21% above national average Updated in 2025
Camera operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$64.99 per hour
$135,180 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$51.28 per hour
$106,660 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$36.05 per hour
$74,990 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$24.48 per hour
$50,920 per year
10th percentile
Starting level camera operator earnings begin at:
$18.52 per hour
$38,520 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Camera operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98,300 |
| New Jersey | $94,100 |
| New York | $93,410 |
| Georgia | $85,050 |
| Alaska | $83,620 |
| Colorado | $74,990 |
| Utah | $73,450 |
| Arizona | $68,250 |
| Maryland | $65,870 |
| Connecticut | $65,630 |
| Ohio | $64,860 |
| Texas | $63,110 |
| North Carolina | $62,720 |
| Florida | $62,220 |
| Nevada | $62,110 |
| Alabama | $61,800 |
| Massachusetts | $61,320 |
| Missouri | $61,200 |
| Kansas | $60,690 |
| Oregon | $60,360 |
| Washington | $60,250 |
| Louisiana | $58,440 |
| Virginia | $58,440 |
| Idaho | $58,140 |
| South Carolina | $57,940 |
| Iowa | $57,220 |
| Tennessee | $57,030 |
| Indiana | $56,810 |
| Michigan | $55,290 |
| Kentucky | $53,790 |
| North Dakota | $53,650 |
| Wisconsin | $52,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,760 |
| Minnesota | $51,420 |
| Montana | $50,910 |
| Mississippi | $49,920 |
| Rhode Island | $49,790 |
| New Mexico | $49,050 |
| Arkansas | $48,680 |
| Oklahoma | $48,620 |
| Wyoming | $47,590 |
| Vermont | $46,350 |
| Nebraska | $46,180 |
| New Hampshire | $45,880 |
| Hawaii | $44,230 |
| South Dakota | $44,160 |
| West Virginia | $43,390 |
| Maine | $37,590 |
| Guam | $32,590 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,070 |
| California | $106,900 |
| Illinois | $100,170 |
How do camera operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Camera operators earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than makeup artists but more than art therapists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Makeup artist salary | $97K |
| Industrial designer salary | $84K |
| Fashion designer salary | $81K |
| Film and video editor salary | $75K |
| Television writer salary | $77K |
| Camera operator salary | $75K |
| Exhibit designer salary | $75K |
| Announcer salary | $47K |
| Graphic designer salary | $63K |
| Art therapist salary | $62K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)