Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
Arts, Audio/Video Technology and CommunicationsO*NET 27-4031.00United States
Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.
- Median annual earnings
- $65,692
- Projected change
- +13.2%
- Typical education
- Associate degree
- Employment
- 35.02K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
60.7% of the workforce
Growing to 39.65K by 2035
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ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What camera operators, television, video, and film do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
- Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
- Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
- Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.
- Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
- Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
- Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
- Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
- Test, clean, maintain, and repair broadcast equipment, including testing microphones, to ensure proper working condition.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $27,564
- 25th percentile
- $40,865
- 50th percentile
- $65,692
- 75th percentile
- $102,869
- 90th percentile
- $149,172
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $65,692 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+13.2%faster than average
202535,017 jobs
2035 projected39,646 jobs
4,629 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Associate degree
- 60.7%
- High school diploma or less
- 17.8%
- Some college
- 14.6%
- Bachelor's degree
- 6.9%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Videographers2,440 postings
- 02Videographers/Editors544 postings
- 03Drone Pilots375 postings
- 04Videographers/Producers208 postings
- 05Videographers/Video Editors201 postings
- 06Drone Operators190 postings
- 07Cinematographers165 postings
- 08Lead Videographers147 postings
- 09Legal Videographers145 postings
- 10Event Videographers139 postings
- 11Sports Videographers138 postings
- 12Video Coordinators73 postings
- 13Video Content Creators57 postings
- 14Videographers/Photographers49 postings
- 15News Videographers40 postings
- 16Content Creators33 postings
- 17Cameramen32 postings
- 18Multimedia Specialists30 postings
- 19Producers/Videographers/Editors29 postings
- 20Camera Operators27 postings
Top employers
- 01Social Media 2.060 postings
- 02Tiktok41 postings
- 03Cj Media39 postings
- 04Backstage International Ltd34 postings
- 05Complete Weddings + Events30 postings
- 06YouTube28 postings
- 07Graymedia26 postings
- 08Nomads Cast26 postings
- 09Exactus Energy23 postings
- 10Robert Half23 postings
- 11Bees36019 postings
- 12Growthcurve18 postings
- 13Online Corporation Limited18 postings
- 14Randstad17 postings
- 15EIVAN's PHOTO16 postings
- 16The Pros Weddings16 postings
- 17Productionhub14 postings
- 18Acuren Inspection13 postings
- 19Ignite Now Media13 postings
- 203D Casas12 postings
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