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Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $52,720 Median per year · $25.35/hr Most earn $34,320–$83,940

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Calibrate and verify accuracy of light meters, shutter diaphragm operation, or lens carriers, using timing instruments.
  • Read and interpret engineering drawings, diagrams, instructions, or specifications to determine needed repairs, fabrication method, and operation sequence.
  • Record test data and document fabrication techniques on reports.
  • Requisition parts or materials.
  • Install electrical assemblies and wiring in aircraft camera housings and memory cards or film in cameras, following blueprints and using hand tools and soldering equipment.
  • Test equipment performance, focus of lens system, diaphragm alignment, lens mounts, or film transport, using precision gauges.

Job outlook

United States
16% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals13.6%
  • Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers10.4%
  • Self-employed (their own business)7.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not usually an entry-level job. Most people spend about 2 to 4 years in related repair work and training before they work on cameras and photographic equipment on their own. Many start with a high school diploma and a certificate or apprenticeship in camera or electronics repair.

  1. High school diploma with electronics, physics, or photography classes

    4 years

    Strong skills in electronics, math, and hands-on building give you a base for technical repair training.

  2. Audiovisual Equipment Installer and Repairer

    1-2 years

    You learn to test, fix, and set up cameras, projectors, and other media gear, which builds real repair experience.

  3. Camera repair certificate or apprenticeship

    About 1 year

    Specialized training teaches you to clean, adjust, and repair lenses, shutters, and motors in cameras and motion picture equipment.

  4. Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer

    Ongoing

    You repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture gear.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Camera Repair Technician

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on harder repairs, train newer technicians, and check the work of others.

  2. Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technician

    2-4 years, plus an associate degree of experience first

    You work on more complex machines that combine electronics and moving parts, which usually requires an associate degree.

  3. Repair Shop Manager

    5+ years of experience first

    You run the shop, handle customers and staff, and manage scheduling and parts, which requires strong repair skills plus people and business skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take physics and electronics or shop classesThese teach how circuits, motors, and optics work, which are the basics of camera repair.
  • Join a photography club or school media clubYou will learn how cameras and video equipment are used, and you may get to help fix or set up gear.
  • Get a starter job at a camera store, photo lab, or AV rental shopWorking around equipment helps you learn how it is used and built, and shows employers you can be trusted with gear.
  • Practice fixing small electronicsTaking apart and repairing things like old cameras, radios, or toys builds careful, patient repair habits.

In college

  • Take electronics, optics, or mechanical engineering technology coursesThese classes build the technical knowledge you need to diagnose and fix precise camera and lens mechanisms.
  • Apply for a summer internship or part-time job at a repair shop or video production companyReal repair experience counts a lot toward the 2 to 4 years of related work employers usually want.
  • Look into a camera repair or electronics certificate programA certificate or apprenticeship is the typical training route for this career, and it can be done alongside school.
  • Join a film, video, or photography student groupYou will learn how professional cameras are used on set, which helps you understand the equipment you would repair.
  • Keep a repair log or portfolioDocumenting the repairs you have done gives future employers concrete proof of your hands-on skills.

Tips for getting started

  • Build a portfolio of simple repairs or cleanings you have done, such as fixing an old film camera or a broken lens, and keep notes on what you did.
  • Ask a local camera shop, photo lab, or video production company if you can shadow a technician or do a summer job. Hands-on exposure matters more than most classes.
  • Look up apprenticeship and certificate programs near you so you know what entry requirements and training options exist before you graduate.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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