The average wage for a camera operator in the United States is around $23.67 per hour.
Avg Wage
Camera operators earn an average hourly wage of $23.67.
Salaries typically start from $14.50 per hour and go up to $48.74 per hour.
9% below national average Updated in 2021
Camera operator earnings by seniority
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 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than television writers but more than costume attendants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Television writer salary | $70K |
| Industrial designer salary | $77K |
| Film and video editor salary | $63K |
| Exhibit designer salary | $55K |
| Interior designer salary | $60K |
| Camera operator salary | $49K |
| Model maker salary | $61K |
| Graphic designer salary | $51K |
| Announcer salary | $38K |
| Costume attendant salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)