Motion Picture Camera Operators
Median Salary: $42,900
Many motion picture camera operators across the United States share a few important professional attributes. For example, stress tolerance, adaptability/flexibility, and independence can be crucial for success in the industry, especially when blended with career training. Around 17,540 individuals were employed as motion picture camera operators nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's vital to utilize these traits and receive formal training, particularly if you're preparing to advance in the field.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for motion picture camera operators in the U.S. was $42,900 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly wage of $20.60. Of course, income can vary with training and by locale. Below, you'll find more data about motion picture camera operators, including wages and job density for metro areas all over the United States.
Motion picture camera operators should be skilled in:
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Different individuals go into different careers; motion picture camera operators are typically:
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Working as a motion picture camera operator requires knowledge in subjects like:
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Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of individuals employed as motion picture camera operators). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of motion picture camera operators in each city as compared to the national average.
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Birmingham | NA | $34,200 | $16.40 | $39,900 | $19.20 | NA |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix | 180 | $65,600 | $31.50 | $79,300 | $38.10 | -22.4% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fresno | NA | $49,100 | $23.60 | $63,500 | $30.60 | NA |
Los Angeles (Area) | 2,200 | $49,800 | $24.00 | $93,900 | $45.20 | 116.4% |
Oakland | NA | $57,600 | $27.70 | $76,400 | $36.70 | NA |
Riverside | 30 | $48,100 | $23.10 | $54,600 | $26.20 | -79.9% |
Sacramento | 120 | $45,200 | $21.70 | $56,600 | $27.20 | 5.2% |
Salinas | NA | $65,900 | $31.70 | $113,700 | $54.60 | NA |
San Diego | 320 | $30,600 | $14.70 | $42,900 | $20.60 | 88.8% |
San Francisco (Area) | NA | $62,300 | $29.90 | $82,200 | $39.50 | NA |
San Francisco (City) | 260 | $66,900 | $32.20 | $88,000 | $42.30 | 97.8% |
San Jose | 50 | $37,300 | $17.90 | $68,400 | $32.90 | -56.7% |
Santa Barbara | 30 | $53,500 | $25.70 | $60,400 | $29.10 | 52.2% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colorado Springs | 30 | $30,400 | $14.60 | $39,300 | $18.90 | 4.5% |
Denver | 280 | $56,600 | $27.20 | $67,700 | $32.50 | 73.9% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hartford | 360 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 377.6% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington (Area) | 670 | $53,600 | $25.80 | $75,400 | $36.20 | 120.1% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cape Coral | NA | $36,500 | $17.50 | $46,300 | $22.30 | NA |
Jacksonville | 120 | $22,600 | $10.90 | $31,000 | $14.90 | 59% |
Miami (Area) | 360 | $35,900 | $17.30 | $47,300 | $22.70 | 48.5% |
Orlando | 180 | $34,600 | $16.60 | $42,600 | $20.50 | 39.6% |
Tampa | 200 | $41,300 | $19.90 | $49,100 | $23.60 | 30.6% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta | 500 | $50,000 | $24.00 | $61,600 | $29.60 | 61.9% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Honolulu | 80 | $35,900 | $17.30 | $57,900 | $27.80 | 43.3% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boise City | NA | $19,400 | $9.30 | $43,100 | $20.70 | NA |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago (Area) | 400 | $37,300 | $17.90 | $59,000 | $28.40 | -19.4% |
Peoria | 40 | $23,200 | $11.10 | $32,800 | $15.80 | 87.3% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis | NA | $75,500 | $36.30 | $84,700 | $40.70 | NA |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Des Moines | 60 | $38,900 | $18.70 | $45,100 | $21.70 | 27.6% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wichita | 30 | $30,800 | $14.80 | $58,000 | $27.90 | -16.4% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elizabethtown | 30 | $46,000 | $22.10 | $56,100 | $27.00 | 478.4% |
Louisville | 70 | $33,300 | $16.00 | $55,100 | $26.50 | -6% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baton Rouge | 60 | $30,600 | $14.70 | $38,200 | $18.40 | 23.9% |
New Orleans | 120 | $31,500 | $15.20 | $38,900 | $18.70 | 74.6% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baltimore | 190 | $47,000 | $22.60 | $64,800 | $31.20 | 10.4% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston (Area) | 240 | $66,000 | $31.70 | $88,900 | $42.70 | 8.2% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Detroit (Area) | NA | $50,400 | $24.20 | $62,900 | $30.30 | NA |
Grand Rapids | 50 | $24,500 | $11.80 | $27,800 | $13.30 | 8.2% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minneapolis | 100 | $46,500 | $22.40 | $54,700 | $26.30 | -55.2% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas City | 110 | $35,500 | $17.10 | $42,500 | $20.40 | -15.7% |
Springfield | NA | $24,800 | $11.90 | $33,200 | $15.90 | NA |
St. Louis | 180 | $50,000 | $24.00 | $72,100 | $34.70 | 6% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Omaha | 40 | $40,200 | $19.30 | $46,900 | $22.60 | -27.6% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Las Vegas | 90 | $44,400 | $21.30 | $59,800 | $28.80 | -20.1% |
Reno | 50 | $36,300 | $17.40 | $57,300 | $27.60 | 88.1% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albuquerque | NA | $65,600 | $31.50 | $117,200 | $56.30 | NA |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany | 70 | $59,100 | $28.40 | $75,300 | $36.20 | 12.7% |
Buffalo | 80 | $27,100 | $13.00 | $48,000 | $23.10 | 6% |
New York (Area) | NA | $45,300 | $21.80 | $56,300 | $27.10 | NA |
Rochester | NA | $34,000 | $16.40 | $45,200 | $21.70 | NA |
Syracuse | 30 | $39,200 | $18.90 | $63,300 | $30.50 | -20.1% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charlotte | 100 | $34,200 | $16.50 | $48,800 | $23.50 | -12.7% |
Durham | 40 | $47,100 | $22.60 | $51,900 | $24.90 | 4.5% |
Raleigh | 40 | $41,000 | $19.70 | $48,100 | $23.10 | -44% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fargo | 40 | $20,900 | $10.00 | $25,000 | $12.00 | 126.1% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati | 80 | $45,600 | $21.90 | $58,100 | $27.90 | -41% |
Cleveland | 110 | $65,500 | $31.50 | $73,600 | $35.40 | -16.4% |
Columbus | 100 | $60,100 | $28.90 | $69,800 | $33.60 | -17.9% |
Dayton | 70 | $32,300 | $15.50 | $50,700 | $24.40 | 45.5% |
Youngstown | 30 | $29,200 | $14.10 | $41,000 | $19.70 | 5.2% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oklahoma City | NA | $22,600 | $10.90 | $25,700 | $12.30 | NA |
Tulsa | 90 | $30,500 | $14.60 | $40,200 | $19.30 | 53.7% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eugene | NA | $35,500 | $17.10 | $41,600 | $20.00 | NA |
Medford | NA | $19,400 | $9.30 | $20,400 | $9.80 | NA |
Portland | 190 | $58,400 | $28.10 | $152,800 | $73.50 | 41% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philadelphia (Area) | NA | $41,300 | $19.90 | $58,200 | $28.00 | NA |
Pittsburgh | 180 | $36,800 | $17.70 | $46,500 | $22.40 | 20.9% |
Scranton | 40 | $27,600 | $13.30 | $30,800 | $14.80 | 19.4% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Providence | 50 | $42,400 | $20.40 | $49,800 | $24.00 | -37.3% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charleston | 60 | $28,000 | $13.50 | $33,100 | $15.90 | 59% |
Columbia | 40 | $30,400 | $14.60 | $44,500 | $21.40 | -17.9% |
Greenville | 40 | $52,400 | $25.20 | $84,300 | $40.50 | -1.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sioux Falls | 30 | $20,800 | $10.00 | $24,900 | $12.00 | 84.3% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Knoxville | 40 | $35,200 | $16.90 | $55,400 | $26.60 | -9.7% |
Memphis | NA | $47,500 | $22.80 | $60,900 | $29.30 | NA |
Nashville | 140 | $35,800 | $17.20 | $48,300 | $23.20 | 41.8% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austin | 50 | $28,600 | $13.70 | $39,700 | $19.10 | -50% |
Corpus Christi | NA | $24,900 | $12.00 | $37,500 | $18.00 | NA |
Dallas (Area) | 150 | $42,100 | $20.20 | $52,600 | $25.30 | -43.3% |
Houston | 60 | $21,100 | $10.10 | $44,700 | $21.50 | -82.1% |
San Antonio | 50 | $48,200 | $23.20 | $54,400 | $26.20 | -54.5% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Provo | NA | $56,900 | $27.40 | $61,400 | $29.50 | NA |
Salt Lake City | 60 | $48,300 | $23.20 | $60,600 | $29.10 | -29.1% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Richmond | 50 | $50,300 | $24.20 | $61,400 | $29.50 | -33.6% |
Virginia Beach | 210 | $48,600 | $23.30 | $63,000 | $30.30 | 112.7% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seattle (Area) | 300 | $63,800 | $30.70 | $74,800 | $36.00 | 61.9% |
City/Area | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
Job Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Madison | 50 | $29,500 | $14.20 | $59,900 | $28.80 | 5.2% |
Milwaukee | 90 | $25,700 | $12.30 | $50,100 | $24.10 | -14.2% |