The average salary for a camera operator in Virginia is around $58,440 per year.
Avg Salary
Camera operators earn an average yearly salary of $58,440.
Wages typically start from $41,710 and go up to $98,870.
11% below national average Updated in 2025
Camera operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$47.54 per hour
$98,870 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$38.24 per hour
$79,530 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$28.10 per hour
$58,440 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$22.03 per hour
$45,820 per year
10th percentile
Starting level camera operator earnings begin at:
$20.05 per hour
$41,710 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 Virginia. On average, they make less than casting directors but more than photographers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Casting director salary | $66K |
| Film director salary | $66K |
| Filmmaker salary | $66K |
| Exhibit designer salary | $59K |
| Art therapist salary | $61K |
| Camera operator salary | $58K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $62K |
| Museum conservator salary | $52K |
| Announcer salary | $44K |
| Photographer salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)




