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Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.

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 $40,610 Median per year · $19.52/hr Most earn $30,090–$68,800

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
  • Place sensitized paper in frames of projection printers, photostats, or other reproduction machines.
  • Maintain records, such as quantities or types of processing completed, materials used, or customer charges.
  • Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
  • Produce timed prints with separate densities or color settings for each scene of a production.
  • Clean or maintain photoprocessing or darkroom equipment, using ultrasonic equipment or cleaning and rinsing solutions.

Job outlook

United States
6% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 600 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

  • Photographic services36.6%
  • Other personal services15.2%
  • Self-employed (their own business)14.7%
  • Electronics and appliance retailers2.7%
  • Pharmacies and drug retailers2.1%

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

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

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: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Many people start with just a high school diploma and learn the work on the job, usually within a few months. Some people then move on to more technical roles over time.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finishing high school with basic math, computer, and art or design classes gives you the education most employers ask for in this field.

  2. Photographic Process Worker

    1-3 months to learn the job

    You start by running film or digital processing equipment, checking image quality, and learning careful handling of photos and negatives under a trainer or supervisor. This is the career itself.

Where it can lead

  1. Prepress Technician

    1-3 years in this career of experience first

    You would move into preparing images and files for printing, which adds color management and digital design skills. Many employers look for a certificate or apprenticeship for this step.

  2. Etcher and Engraver

    1-3 years in this career of experience first

    You would use more precise hand and machine skills to make printing plates or engraved images, which usually takes extra training on specialized tools.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take computer and digital media classesLearning image-editing and file-handling basics prepares you for digital processing equipment and software.
  • Join the yearbook, photography, or school newspaper clubYou get real practice with photos, deadlines, and working carefully on images that others will see.
  • Take art, drawing, or design classesUnderstanding color, light, and detail helps you judge whether a processed image looks right.
  • Get a starter job at a store, print shop, or photo counterAny job that rewards accuracy and following steps builds the habits this work depends on.
  • Volunteer to help with community event photos or archivesOrganizing and handling photos carefully shows reliability and gives you examples to mention later.

In college

  • Take courses in digital imaging, photography, or graphic designThese classes teach the image-editing and color skills used in modern photo processing and prepress work.
  • Get a part-time job at a photo lab, print shop, or camera storeHands-on experience with real equipment and customers is one of the fastest ways to get hired in this field.
  • Learn common editing software and file formatsKnowing these tools well can help you move into prepress or repair roles later.
  • Consider a certificate program in photo or print technologyMany community colleges and trade schools offer short certificates that can help you advance beyond entry-level work.
  • Join a photography or design student clubClubs offer practice, feedback, and connections with people who work in imaging and printing.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for part-time or summer jobs at photo labs, print shops, or camera stores. Even a few months of hands-on work shows employers you can handle careful, detail-focused tasks.
  • Build comfort with both film and digital editing software. Many processing jobs now mix the two, so knowing both makes you more useful.
  • Pay attention to neatness, accuracy, and following written steps. Precision work is a big part of this job, and those habits are easy to build now.

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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