Camera operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$78.35 per hour

$162,960 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$72.66 per hour

$151,130 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$32.81 per hour

$68,250 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level camera operator earnings begin at:

$24.52 per hour

$50,990 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 Arizona.

Career Median Salary
Film producer salary $67K
Filmmaker salary $67K
Film director salary $67K
Casting director salary $67K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)