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Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Typical education: Associate degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.

Kinds of work

  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate 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 $74,990 Median per year · $36.05/hr Most earn $38,520–$135,180

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Design graphics for studio productions.
  • Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
  • Test, clean, maintain, and repair broadcast equipment, including testing microphones, to ensure proper working condition.
  • Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
  • Set up and operate electric news gathering (ENG) microwave vehicles to gather and edit raw footage on location to send to television affiliates for broadcast.
  • View films to resolve problems of exposure control, subject and camera movement, changes in subject distance, and related variables.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 2,500 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

  • Self-employed (their own business)34.7%
  • Television broadcasting stations6.8%
  • Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers5.6%
  • Temporary help services3.5%
  • Spectator sports3.4%

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

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

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: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Camera operators usually earn an associate degree in video or film production and then spend about 6 months to 1 year in entry-level production work before operating a camera on their own. It is not usually a job you can start straight out of school, but a two-year program is a common first step.

  1. High school diploma with a focus on media or art

    4 years

    Building basic skills in writing, math, visual art, and computers gives you a strong start for a film or video program.

  2. Associate degree in film, video, or media production

    2 years

    You learn how cameras, lighting, and shooting work, which prepares you for an entry-level job on a set or in a studio.

  3. Camera Assistant or Production Assistant

    6 months to 1 year

    You help set up gear, manage cables and batteries, and learn how professional crews work, which builds the hands-on experience you need before operating a camera.

  4. Camera Operator

    Ongoing

    You run the camera during filming for television, video, or film projects, using what you learned to frame and capture scenes.

Where it can lead

  1. Director of Photography

    5-10 years of experience first

    You lead the camera and lighting team and shape the overall look of a project, which usually takes many years of experience running cameras on bigger productions.

  2. Media Technical Director/Manager

    1-2 years of related experience, plus a bachelor's degree of experience first

    You oversee the technical side of a production or facility, such as equipment, crews, and workflow, which usually requires a bachelor's degree on top of hands-on experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take video, photography, or media classesThese classes teach framing, lighting, and storytelling, which are core skills for a camera operator.
  • Join the school news, broadcast, or video clubWorking on school announcements or student videos gives you real practice running cameras with a team.
  • Volunteer to film school or community eventsFilming assemblies, sports, or local events builds your portfolio and teaches you to work under deadlines.
  • Take a part-time job in a related settingA job at a theater, event venue, or local TV or radio station helps you learn how productions run behind the scenes.
  • Learn basic computer and editing skillsComfort with computers and free or school-provided editing software prepares you for the technical side of video work.

In college

  • Major in film, video, or media productionA focused program teaches camera operation, lighting, and production workflow in a structured way.
  • Work on student film or video crewsServing as a camera assistant or operator on student projects gives you hands-on experience and credits for your portfolio.
  • Apply for internships at local TV stations or production companiesInternships put you on real sets and help you meet people who hire for entry-level camera and production jobs.
  • Take a part-time campus job in media servicesMany schools have media centers or AV departments where you can practice with professional cameras and gear.
  • Build and share a portfolioA reel of your best camera work is often the deciding factor when employers look at candidates for camera jobs.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask to shadow working crews on local shoots, news stations, or school events so you can see how camera work happens day to day.
  • Build a small reel of your own short videos, since hiring managers for camera work often ask to see examples of your framing and lighting.
  • Learn the basics of lighting, composition, and editing software, because camera operators are expected to know how their shots will be used.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

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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