Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film · California

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in California

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in California earn a median annual wage of $106,900 —42.6% above the national median of $74,990. That ranks CA #1 of 46 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$106,900
Median hourly
$51.39
Entry level (P10)
$53,910
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$154,240
90th percentile
Employment
4,700
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+42.6%
U.S. $74,990

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$53,910
$76,060
$106,900
$130,960
$53,910$106,900$154,240
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $106,900.

Employment is 1.86× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for camera operators, television, video, and film

All 46 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$106,900$51.394,7001.86
2Illinois$100,170$48.161,0601.25
3District of Columbia$98,300$47.262402.51
4New York$93,410$44.912,9302.19
5Georgia$85,050$40.895700.84
6Alaska$83,620$40.20501.01
7Colorado$74,990$36.053000.76
8Utah$73,450$35.312401.02
9Arizona$68,250$32.815201.17
10Maryland$65,870$31.672900.77

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$85,030$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$47,660$47,320
Graphic Designers$75,130$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010$39,390
Producers and Directors$129,790$90,360
Editors$98,030$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do camera operators, television, video, and film make in California?

The median annual wage for camera operators, television, video, and film in California is $106,900, or $51.39 per hour. That is 42.6% above the national median of $74,990.

What is the entry-level camera operators, television, video, and film salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $53,910 per year ($25.92/hour). The 25th percentile is $76,060.

How many people work as camera operators, television, video, and film in California?

About 4,700 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for camera operators, television, video, and film?

California ranks #1 of 46 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.86x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays camera operators, television, video, and film the most?

California has the highest median wage at $106,900 per year, followed by Illinois ($100,170) and District of Columbia ($98,300).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes