The average salary for a camera operator in South Dakota is around $44,160 per year.
Avg Salary
Camera operators earn an average yearly salary of $44,160.
Wages typically start from $28,880 and go up to $77,180.
21% below national average Updated in 2025
Camera operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$37.11 per hour
$77,180 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$35.05 per hour
$72,910 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$21.23 per hour
$44,160 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$18.93 per hour
$39,380 per year
10th percentile
Starting level camera operator earnings begin at:
$13.88 per hour
$28,880 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 South Dakota. On average, they make less than casting directors but more than film and video editors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Casting director salary | $60K |
| Industrial designer salary | $60K |
| Television writer salary | $57K |
| Art therapist salary | $47K |
| Graphic designer salary | $48K |
| Camera operator salary | $44K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $45K |
| News anchor salary | $44K |
| Photographer salary | $45K |
| Film and video editor salary | $39K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)