National Salary Info » Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture

Highest Paying Industries for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture

The top 68 highest paying industries for camera operators, television, video, and motion picture (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $86,250, independent artists, writers, and performers is the highest paying industry for camera operators, television, video, and motion picture. It is followed by temporary help services industry (average annual salary $63,400). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of camera operators, television, video, and motion picture in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 68 Highest Paying Industries for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$86,250	$46,050	200
2	Temporary Help Services	$63,400	$24,230	230
3	Federal government, including USPS	$63,390	$47,920	380
4	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$63,390	$47,920	380
5	Business schools and computer and management training - Privately owned	$61,590	$31,810	40
6	Business Schools and Computer and Management Training	$61,590	$31,810	40
7	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$60,600	$32,010	160
8	Employment Services	$60,280	$25,440	300
9	Photographic Services	$58,490	$18,810	290
10	Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	$57,230	$30,440	280
11	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$55,660	$18,530	320
12	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$55,090	$23,020	750
13	Federal, State, and Local Government	$55,090	$23,020	750
14	Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers	$54,720	$34,810	160
15	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$54,510	$29,240	650
16	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$54,410	$34,400	170
17	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$53,940	$22,320	1,140
18	Motion Picture and Video Industries	$52,840	$27,830	7,760
19	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$52,800	$27,830	7,780
20	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$51,920	$32,840	40
21	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$51,000	$33,330	50
22	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$50,970	$21,170	490
23	Newspaper Publishers	$50,970	$31,530	60
24	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$50,670	$21,870	1,080
25	Manufacturing	$50,570	$28,010	40
26	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$50,400	$33,390	30
27	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$50,350	$24,630	230
28	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$50,240	$32,060	30
29	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$50,240	$32,060	30
30	Hospitals - Privately owned	$50,130	$32,520	40
31	Health Care and Social Assistance	$50,100	$31,760	50
32	Wholesale Trade	$50,100	$33,790	50
33	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$48,900	$20,180	510
34	Information	$47,560	$23,920	14,470
35	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$47,090	$25,280	530
36	Administrative and Support Services	$47,080	$25,240	520
37	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$45,710	$29,120	50
38	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$44,360	$18,220	90
39	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	$43,590	$28,620	60
40	Educational Services - Privately owned	$43,580	$21,580	150
41	Elementary and Secondary Schools	$43,470	$29,220	70
42	Religious Organizations	$43,240	$17,770	60
43	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$43,190	$20,410	90
44	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$42,900	$18,460	80
45	State government, including schools and hospitals	$42,820	$22,890	230
46	Junior Colleges (including private, state, and local government schools)	$42,640	$20,370	90
47	Educational Services	$42,210	$21,290	470
48	Educational Services - Local government owned	$41,830	$21,810	120
49	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$41,810	$30,870	60
50	Educational Services - State government owned	$41,750	$20,530	200
51	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$41,500	$19,670	250
52	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$41,440	$19,940	6,190
53	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$41,400	$18,110	110
54	Business Support Services	$41,270	$28,120	200
55	Telecommunications	$40,820	$23,350	120
56	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$40,630	$19,500	160
57	Television Broadcasting	$40,210	$19,570	5,450
58	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$40,090	$19,560	5,540
59	Junior colleges - Local government owned	$39,760	$19,170	60
60	Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses	$38,460	$26,850	60
61	Nonstore Retailers	$38,460	$26,850	60
62	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$38,320	$21,960	100
63	Other Information Services	$37,920	$19,530	190
64	Retail Trade	$37,710	$24,700	90
65	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$37,290	$18,640	480
66	Radio Broadcasting	$36,630	$19,180	90
67	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$35,930	$18,600	340
68	Spectator Sports	$35,790	$18,110	210