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Career

Motion Picture Projectionists

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Set up and operate motion picture projection and related sound reproduction 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 $38,270 Median per year · $18.40/hr Most earn $23,390–$88,310

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Remove full take-up reels and run film through rewinding machines to rewind projected films so they may be shown again.
  • Install and connect auxiliary equipment, such as microphones, amplifiers, disc playback machines, and lights.
  • Inspect movie films to ensure that they are complete and in good condition.
  • Set up and inspect curtain and screen controls.
  • Remove full take-up reels and run film through rewinding machines to rewind projected films so they may be shown again.
  • Coordinate equipment operation with presentation of supplemental material, such as music, oral commentaries, or sound effects.

Job outlook

United States
6% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 300 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

  • Motion picture and video exhibition59.3%
  • Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events6.5%
  • Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions5.4%
  • Theater companies and dinner theaters3.8%

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

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

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: High school diplomaExperience before this job: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

Motion picture projectionist is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn the equipment on the job, usually in up to about a month.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, ideally with courses in math, physics, or electronics that help you understand how projectors and sound systems work.

  2. Motion Picture Projectionist

    Up to 1 month of on-the-job training

    Learn to set up, run, and maintain film and digital projection and sound equipment, usually by training under an experienced projectionist at a theater.

Where it can lead

  1. Audiovisual Equipment Installer

    About 1-2 years of related experience of experience first

    You would install and repair audio, video, and presentation systems in buildings, which means more hands-on troubleshooting and working on bigger systems.

  2. Audio and Video Technician

    About 1-2 years of related experience, often with an associate degree of experience first

    You would set up and run audio and video equipment for events, studios, or broadcasts, often with more technical training and responsibility.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take physics or electronics classesUnderstanding light, sound, and circuits makes it easier to learn how projection and sound equipment works.
  • Join the school theater or AV crewHelping with lighting, sound, or video for school plays and events gives you real experience running equipment.
  • Work a part-time job at a movie theaterA starter job at a local theater lets you see projection rooms up close and build a work record.
  • Volunteer for community eventsSetting up sound and screens for school or town events builds practical skills and reliability.

In college

  • Take courses in media technology or electronicsClasses in audio, video, or basic electronics give you a stronger base for projection and AV work.
  • Work on campus media or events crewsCampus AV, radio, or event jobs give you hands-on time with the same kinds of equipment projectionists use.
  • Look for a theater job or internshipWorking at a local cinema or event venue lets you learn projection and sound systems on the job.
  • Join a film or media student clubClubs often run screenings and events, which teaches you how projection, sound, and staging come together.
  • Consider a manufacturer or industry certificationShort training in digital cinema or AV systems can show employers you know current equipment, if you can find a program offered near you.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local movie theater if they hire part-time ushers or concession workers. Being around the projection booth is a good way to learn how the business runs and to ask about projectionist openings.
  • Get comfortable with basic electronics and computers, since modern theaters use digital projectors, servers, and sound systems alongside older film equipment.
  • Keep a simple record of any AV, tech, or theater work you do. Employers want to see that you are careful, reliable, and can follow safety rules.

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.

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