Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film · Illinois

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

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $100,170 —33.6% above the national median of $74,990. That ranks IL #2 of 46 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$100,170
Median hourly
$48.16
Entry level (P10)
$38,840
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$133,940
90th percentile
Employment
1,060
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+33.6%
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
$38,840
$69,900
$100,170
$126,860
$38,840$100,170$133,940
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $100,170.

Employment is 1.25× as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

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

All 46 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois 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 Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$76,380$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$49,120$47,320
Graphic Designers$62,560$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$40,270$39,390
Producers and Directors$81,080$90,360
Editors$76,060$77,920

Frequently asked questions

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

The median annual wage for camera operators, television, video, and film in Illinois is $100,170, or $48.16 per hour. That is 33.6% above the national median of $74,990.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $38,840 per year ($18.68/hour). The 25th percentile is $69,900.

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

About 1,060 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

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

Illinois ranks #2 of 46 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.25x as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois 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