Videographers, unlike other types of camera operators, often are responsible for not only shooting videos but also the editing and postproduction of their footage. Many videographers are self-employed, or make short films and documentaries for companies.
National Salary Range
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, camera operators earned an average of $49,010 a year in 2012. The median salary for camera operators was $40,300 per year, and half of camera operators made between $27,560 and $60,250 per year. The bureau also reports that 80 percent of all camera operator salaries fall within the range of between $19,610 and $86,000 annually.
Pay by State
According to the BLS, camera operators in Washington, D.C., earned the highest average wage in the country in 2012, drawing $70,340 per year. California ranked a close second in terms of pay for camera operators, with $69,080 per year, followed by $68,530 in Maryland. These high wages are mostly attributable to the high pay afforded camera operators working for the federal government or the motion picture industry. The lowest salaries in the country were reported in North Dakota and Idaho, where camera operators averaged between $23,000 and $24,000 per year.
Pay by Industry
Videographers working for video and other technical service companies reported an average salary of $51,900 per year to the BLS in 2012. By comparison, camera operators working in the film industry averaged $57,100 per year, while those working in television reported an average annual income of $39,150. The highest wages were found in the accounting and payroll industry, which paid camera operators an average of $65,530, and in the federal government, where camera operators averaged $65,610 per year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, videographers may have a difficult time finding employment between 2010 and 2020. While the American economy is expected to add jobs at a rate of 14 percent between 2010 and 2020, jobs for camera operators are expected to grow at a very slow rate of 2 percent. Many individuals are attracted to video work due to the popularity of motion pictures and television, so competition for jobs will be strong.
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