The average wage for a camera operator in the United States is around $9.67 per hour.
Avg Wage
Camera operators earn an average hourly wage of $9.67.
Salaries typically start from $5.38 per hour and go up to $17.36 per hour.
66% below national average Updated in 2023
Camera operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$17.36 per hour
$36,100 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$13.15 per hour
$27,360 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$9.67 per hour
$20,106 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$7.10 per hour
$14,776 per year
10th percentile
Starting level camera operator earnings begin at:
$5.38 per hour
$11,198 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Camera operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $94,100 |
| Connecticut | $80,140 |
| New York | $80,010 |
| District of Columbia | $77,670 |
| Maryland | $62,120 |
| Missouri | $61,200 |
| Washington | $60,580 |
| Colorado | $60,360 |
| Oregon | $60,360 |
| Arizona | $59,980 |
| Hawaii | $59,960 |
| California | $54,420 |
| Texas | $54,090 |
| Mississippi | $53,550 |
| Virginia | $50,090 |
| Minnesota | $49,150 |
| Illinois | $49,070 |
| Indiana | $48,940 |
| North Carolina | $48,830 |
| Alabama | $48,750 |
| Nebraska | $48,590 |
| Utah | $48,510 |
| Idaho | $48,370 |
| North Dakota | $48,340 |
| Kentucky | $48,030 |
| Florida | $47,780 |
| Wyoming | $47,590 |
| Arkansas | $47,050 |
| South Carolina | $47,030 |
| Oklahoma | $46,150 |
| Massachusetts | $43,940 |
| Kansas | $41,920 |
| Vermont | $39,320 |
| Georgia | $38,920 |
| Wisconsin | $38,690 |
| Michigan | $38,550 |
| South Dakota | $38,210 |
| New Hampshire | $38,030 |
| Ohio | $37,890 |
| Nevada | $37,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,490 |
| Louisiana | $36,950 |
| West Virginia | $36,450 |
| Maine | $36,130 |
| Guam | $32,590 |
| Tennessee | $31,040 |
| Montana | $30,750 |
| Iowa | $30,430 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,070 |
| New Mexico | $22,990 |
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 glass blowers but more than craft artists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Glass blower salary | $34K |
| Announcer salary | $27K |
| Museum conservator salary | $26K |
| Film and video editor salary | $26K |
| Makeup artist salary | $20K |
| Camera operator salary | $20K |
| Filmmaker salary | $18K |
| Model maker salary | $19K |
| Photographer salary | $12K |
| Craft artist salary | $5K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)