Motion Picture Projectionists · California

Motion Picture Projectionists Salary in California

Motion Picture Projectionists in California earn a median annual wage of $74,840 —95.6% above the national median of $38,270. That ranks CA #3 of 12 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$74,840
Median hourly
$35.98
Entry level (P10)
$34,470
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$134,010
90th percentile
Employment
190
0.0 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+95.6%
U.S. $38,270

Wage distribution

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

10th percentile90th percentile
$34,470
$36,350
$74,840
$117,940
$34,470$74,840$134,010
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $74,840.

Employment concentration (1.09×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for motion picture projectionists

All 12 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New York$82,260$39.552702.98
2Illinois$78,990$37.98——
3California$74,840$35.981901.09
4Washington$39,070$18.78601.64
5Michigan$37,590$18.07——
6Ohio$36,870$17.73500.94
7Arizona$32,890$15.81——
8Texas$31,160$14.98400.31
9Pennsylvania$29,850$14.35400.73
10Missouri$29,140$14.01——

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Childcare Workers$40,020$34,980
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$37,000$32,150
Recreation Workers$39,780$36,560
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$57,990$47,160
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,660$35,790
Animal Caretakers$38,700$35,360

Frequently asked questions

How much do motion picture projectionists make in California?

The median annual wage for motion picture projectionists in California is $74,840, or $35.98 per hour. That is 95.6% above the national median of $38,270.

What is the entry-level motion picture projectionists salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $34,470 per year ($16.57/hour). The 25th percentile is $36,350.

How many people work as motion picture projectionists in California?

About 190 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for motion picture projectionists?

California ranks #3 of 12 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.09x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays motion picture projectionists the most?

New York has the highest median wage at $82,260 per year, followed by Illinois ($78,990) and California ($74,840).

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