How much does a Tv Camera Operator make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Tv Camera Operator in the United States is $48,261 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.
However, a Tv Camera Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $59,278
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $43,109 to $54,028
Key Factors That Influence Tv Camera Operator Salaries
A Tv Camera Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Tv Camera Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Tv Camera Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
How Do Tv Camera Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Tv Camera Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $60,872
San Francisco: $60,205
Oakland: $58,937
San Jose, CA$60,872
San Francisco, CA$60,205
Oakland, CA$58,937
New York, NY$55,568
Paramus, NJ$54,892
Queens Village, NY$54,890
Passaic, NJ$54,844
Bergenfield, NJ$54,839
Stamford, CT$54,733
Huntington, NY$54,713
Newark, NJ$54,357
Bridgeport, CT$54,255
Vallejo, CA$54,159
New Brunswick, NJ$54,140
Petaluma, CA$54,111
Middlesex, NJ$54,019
Somerset, NJ$53,985
Santa Cruz, CA$53,922
Boston, MA$53,628
Monterey, CA$53,459
Seattle, WA$53,348
Santa Rosa, CA$53,338
Los Angeles, CA$53,324
Juneau, AK$53,198
Washington, DC$53,145
Orange, CA$52,974
Santa Ana, CA$52,846
Long Beach, CA$52,798
Anaheim, CA$52,788
Anchorage, AK$52,764
Santa Maria, CA$52,619
Everett, WA$52,610
Danbury, CT$52,440
Bremerton, WA$52,373
Tacoma, WA$52,199
New Suffolk, NY$52,198
Sacramento, CA$52,185
Santa Barbara, CA$52,132
Trenton, NJ$52,079
San Diego, CA$52,079
Brockton, MA$52,026
Fairbanks, AK$51,907
Lompoc, CA$51,784
Lowell, MA$51,745
Ventura, CA$51,736
Nashua, NH$51,726
Stockton, CA$51,722
Modesto, CA$51,369
Poughkeepsie, NY$51,263
Olympia, WA$51,171
Kennewick, WA$51,171
New Haven, CT$51,152
Lawrence, MA$50,978
Hartford, CT$50,930
Riverside, CA$50,920
New Bedford, MA$50,872
Richland, WA$50,872
Bakersfield, CA$50,805
San Bernardino, CA$50,785
New Britain, CT$50,781
Atlantic City, NJ$50,781
New London, CT$50,761
Norwich, CT$50,747
Portsmouth, NH$50,737
Boulder, CO$50,635
Portland, OR$50,568
Worcester, MA$50,563
Minneapolis, MN$50,414
Philadelphia, PA$50,346
Honolulu, HI$50,187
Saint Paul, MN$50,164
Vineland, NJ$50,153
Providence, RI$50,013
Chicago, IL$49,873
Bellingham, WA$49,815
Springfield, MA$49,777
Baltimore, MD$49,762
Chico, CA$49,642
Pittsfield, MA$49,511
Manchester, NH$49,420
Spokane, WA$49,207
Denver, CO$49,202
Albany, NY$48,976
Troy, NY$48,956
Nassau, NY$48,905
Schenectady, NY$48,855
Wilmington, DE$48,816
Burlington, VT$48,749
Salem, OR$48,729
Portland, ME$48,580
Yakima, WA$48,532
Rochester, MN$48,382
Reno, NV$48,358
Fresno, CA$48,358
Milwaukee, WI$48,314
Detroit, MI$48,266
Ann Arbor, MI$48,258
Allentown, PA$48,252
Colorado Springs, CO$48,170
Syracuse, NY$48,145
Carson City, NV$48,145
Houston, TX$48,078
Eugene, OR$48,054
Gary, IN$47,996
Springfield, OR$47,957
Bismarck, ND$47,948
Galveston, TX$47,914
Medford, OR$47,841
Fort Collins, CO$47,822
Concord, NH$47,798
Austin, TX$47,784
Mesa, AZ$47,682
Reading, PA$47,677
Phoenix, AZ$47,673
Dallas, TX$47,658
Saint Cloud, MN$47,612
Madison, WI$47,547
Utica, NY$47,417
Rochester, NY$47,340
Des Moines, IA$47,335
Raleigh, NC$47,330
Atlanta, GA$47,257
Battle Creek, MI$47,243
Salt Lake City, UT$47,229
Lancaster, PA$47,156
Harrisburg, PA$47,089
Kansas City, MO$47,040
Champaign, IL$47,031
Kansas City, KS$47,031
Fort Worth, TX$47,026
Columbus, OH$47,018
Boca Raton, FL$47,007
Pittsburgh, PA$46,987
Richmond, VA$46,968
Indianapolis, IN$46,958
Cleveland, OH$46,953
Las Vegas, NV$46,896
Cincinnati, OH$46,896
Petersburg, VA$46,823
Huntsville, AL$46,751
Lansing, MI$46,718
Lebanon, PA$46,712
Pueblo, CO$46,707
Appleton, WI$46,693
Buffalo, NY$46,674
Dayton, OH$46,659
Racine, WI$46,649
Charlotte, NC$46,645
Saint Louis, MO$46,630
York, PA$46,601
Elkhart, IN$46,601
Gastonia, NC$46,592
Billings, MT$46,580
Beaumont, TX$46,567
Lorain, OH$46,558
Benton Harbor, MI$46,548
Toledo, OH$46,538
Binghamton, NY$46,514
Rock Hill, SC$46,509
Rockford, IL$46,485
Springfield, IL$46,466
Elyria, OH$46,461
Fargo, ND$46,461
Flagstaff, AZ$46,427
Fort Lauderdale, FL$46,398
Duluth, MN$46,369
Miami, FL$46,369
Cheyenne, WY$46,336
Grand Forks, ND$46,336
Bangor, ME$46,229
Cedar Rapids, IA$46,176
Durham, NC$46,156
Louisville, KY$46,152
Grand Rapids, MI$46,143
Hialeah, FL$46,138
Casper, WY$46,070
Scranton, PA$46,012
New Orleans, LA$45,998
Virginia Beach, VA$45,993
Akron, OH$45,969
Peoria, IL$45,906
Sarasota, FL$45,896
Nashville, TN$45,863
Omaha, NE$45,863
Green Bay, WI$45,863
Baton Rouge, LA$45,839
Charleston, SC$45,829
Jamestown, NY$45,805
Davenport, IA$45,805
Tucson, AZ$45,781
Saint Petersburg, FL$45,752
Tampa, FL$45,742
Evansville, IN$45,713
Port Arthur, TX$45,713
Bradenton, FL$45,694
Santa Fe, NM$45,607
Orlando, FL$45,520
Clearwater, FL$45,506
Canton, OH$45,404
La Crosse, WI$45,404
Albuquerque, NM$45,375
Newport News, VA$45,370
High Point, NC$45,356
Ogden, UT$45,337
Corpus Christi, TX$45,298
Norfolk, VA$45,269
Laramie, WY$45,269
Rock Island, IL$45,240
Saginaw, MI$45,230
Jacksonville, FL$45,226
Salisbury, NC$45,216
Boise, ID$45,206
Moline, IL$45,182
Fort Myers, FL$45,168
Memphis, TN$45,158
Tulsa, OK$45,134
Waterloo, IA$45,105
Spartanburg, SC$45,057
Lincoln, NE$45,033
Fort Wayne, IN$45,023
Provo, UT$45,018
Cedar Falls, IA$44,960
San Antonio, TX$44,941
Greensboro, NC$44,922
South Bend, IN$44,917
Savannah, GA$44,864
Muskegon, MI$44,844
Birmingham, AL$44,840
Winston Salem, NC$44,816
Lake Charles, LA$44,700
Anderson, IN$44,690
Lexington, KY$44,675
Augusta, GA$44,661
Greenville, SC$44,661
Lima, OH$44,622
Wichita, KS$44,618
Tuscaloosa, AL$44,618
Columbia, SC$44,574
Springfield, OH$44,564
Asheville, NC$44,487
Bloomington, IN$44,453
Knoxville, TN$44,280
Shreveport, LA$44,275
Wilmington, NC$44,212
Roanoke, VA$44,212
Topeka, KS$44,125
Frankfort, KY$44,120
Oklahoma City, OK$44,087
Chillicothe, OH$44,067
Longview, TX$44,063
Melbourne, FL$44,058
Sioux Falls, SD$43,981
Mobile, AL$43,976
Terre Haute, IN$43,956
Altoona, PA$43,927
Amarillo, TX$43,894
Killeen, TX$43,879
Fayetteville, AR$43,841
Chattanooga, TN$43,826
Sioux City, IA$43,783
Idaho Falls, ID$43,773
Lynchburg, VA$43,734
Gainesville, FL$43,672
Portsmouth, OH$43,648
Little Rock, AR$43,638
Lafayette, LA$43,619
Youngstown, OH$43,619
Daytona Beach, FL$43,590
Clarksville, TN$43,585
Pensacola, FL$43,580
Temple, TX$43,577
Hopkinsville, KY$43,435
Erie, PA$43,426
Florence, SC$43,406
Charleston, WV$43,329
Great Falls, MT$43,305
Macon, GA$43,237
Tallahassee, FL$43,232
Fayetteville, NC$43,223
Waco, TX$43,213
Helena, MT$43,179
Pine Bluff, AR$43,161
Vincennes, IN$43,102
Lubbock, TX$43,083
Alamogordo, NM$43,054
Twin Falls, ID$43,010
Rapid City, SD$42,996
Jackson, MS$42,909
Huntington, WV$42,906
Greenville, MS$42,904
Parkersburg, WV$42,855
Montgomery, AL$42,846
Wichita Falls, TX$42,798
Springfield, MO$42,798
Biloxi, MS$42,774
Monroe, LA$42,726
Johnstown, PA$42,692
Sumter, SC$42,673
Columbus, GA$42,668
Pascagoula, MS$42,576
Abilene, TX$42,576
Kingsport, TN$42,451
Albany, GA$42,451
Gulfport, MS$42,436
Alexandria, LA$42,277
Fort Smith, AR$42,156
El Paso, TX$42,026
Las Cruces, NM$41,809
Harlingen, TX$41,686
Pocatello, ID$41,678
Florence, AL$41,616
Brownsville, TX$41,606
Mcallen, TX$41,505
Dothan, AL$41,437
Columbus, MS$41,150
Altus, OK$40,926
Lawton, OK$40,834
Pierre, SD$40,660
What Skills Can Increase a Tv Camera Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.05% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Plumbing (Mentioned in 2.15% Job Postings): Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes. In the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. Boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing.
Audio Systems (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): Audio systems a system of electronic equipment for recording or reproducing sound. sound system. electronic equipment - equipment that involves the controlled conduction of electrons (especially in a gas or vacuum or semiconductor)
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Tv Camera Operator's salary.
Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Digital Transformation: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Tv Camera Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Tv Camera Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Tv Camera Operator positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Tv Camera Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Tv Camera Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense
$62,740
$30.0
30%
Tv Camera Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Tv Camera Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Salaries for a Tv Camera Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $46,341 in 2023
to around $45,946 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Tv Camera Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Tv Camera Operator Over Time
$???
$46,341
$46,085
$45,946
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$46,341
2024
$46,085
2025
$45,946
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Tv Camera Operator
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Tv Camera Operator
Here are companies hiring for Tv Camera Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Tv Camera Operator
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Tv Camera Operator?
The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Tv Camera Operator roles,
with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
