Video Camera Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Video Camera Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Video Camera Operator in the United States is $73,276 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, a Video Camera Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,328
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,469 to $80,631
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,630
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View as table View as graph 25% $62,469 10% $52,630 90% $87,328 75% $80,631 $73,276 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Video Camera Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $80,631 $6,719 $1,551 $39
Average $73,276 $6,106 $1,409 $35
25th Percentile $62,469 $5,206 $1,201 $30
Check out Video Camera Operator Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Video Camera Operator Salaries

A Video 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Video Camera Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Video 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $70,725
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $71,025
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $74,596
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $77,785
  • Expert (over 8 years): $78,012
Levels Salary
Entry Level Video Camera Operator$70,725
Intermediate Level Video Camera Operator$71,025
Senior Level Video Camera Operator$74,596
Specialist Level Video Camera Operator$77,785
Expert Level Video Camera Operator$78,012
$70,725 0 yr
$71,025 < 2 yrs
$74,596 2-4 yrs
$77,785 5-8 yrs
$78,012 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Video 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 Video Camera Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $81,132.
  • California: $80,824.
  • Massachusetts: $79,747.

Top Paying Cities for Video Camera Operators

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: $92,423
  • San Francisco: $91,515
  • Oakland: $89,485

What Skills Can Increase a Video Camera Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Storytelling (Mentioned in 4.53% Job Postings): Planning, creating and presenting stories or narratives to achieve diverse personal and business goals.
  • Videography (Mentioned in 4.19% Job Postings): Videography is the process of capturing moving images on electronic media and even streaming media.
  • Publishing (Mentioned in 1.94% Job Postings): Publishing is the dissemination of literature, music, or information. It is the activity of making information available to the general public. In some cases, authors may be their own publishers, meaning originators and developers of content also provide media to deliver and display their content. Also, the word "publisher" can refer both to an individual who leads a publishing company or an imprint and to an individual who owns/heads a magazine. Traditionally, the term refers to the distribution of printed works, such as books (the "book trade") and newspapers. With the advent of digital information systems and the Internet, the scope of publishing has expanded to include electronic resources such as the electronic versions of books and periodicals, as well as micropublishing, websites, blogs, video game publishers, and the like. Publishing includes the following stages of development: acquisition, copy editing, production, printing (and its electronic equivalents), marketing, and distribution.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Storytelling 4.53%
Videography 4.19%
Publishing 1.94%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
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 Video Camera Operator's salary.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight
$76,207
4%
Project Management
$75,475
3%
Flexibility
$75,475
3%
Adobe Premiere Pro
$74,742
2%
Advertising
$74,742
2%
Animation
$74,742
2%
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How Education impacts a Video Camera Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Video Camera Operators enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Video Camera Operator with a Associate's Degree is between $67,923 and $75,596).

Video Camera Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Video Camera Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 14.0%
Associates 11.9%
Bachelors 63.9%
Masters 8.0%
Doctorate 0.7%
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Video Camera Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Video 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Video Camera Operator

Salaries for a Video Camera Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $65,248 in 2023 to around $65,061 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Video Camera Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Video Camera Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$65,248
2024
$65,472
2025
$65,061
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $65,248
2024 $65,472
2025 $65,061
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Video Camera Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Video Camera Operator

Here are companies hiring for Video Camera Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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