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Salary comparison

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: Who Earns More?

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers out-earn Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers land at $52,720 and Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics at $50,620. The education gap is real: camera and photographic equipment repairer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while automotive service technicians and mechanic programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers is Ohio ($85,070); for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics it's District of Columbia ($68,660).

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Median salary
$52,720
$50,620
Hourly rate
$25.35/hr
$24.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$34,320
$34,660
Senior level (90th %)
$83,940
$81,790
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
1,650
704,640
Job growth (10-year)
-15.1%
4.2%
Category
Repair & Maintenance
Repair & Maintenance
Top-paying state
Ohio
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers median pay.

State
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Ohio
$85,070
$48,710
Virginia
$65,170
$59,330
New Jersey
$60,290
$56,610
California
$59,770
$64,980
Arizona
$59,080
$49,570
Nevada
$52,700
$48,290
Georgia
$49,320
$49,060
New York
$48,280
$54,120
Kansas
$46,920
$47,790
Tennessee
$44,940
$50,290
Florida
$41,290
$48,260
North Carolina
$41,140
$48,200
Texas
$33,940
$48,310

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers earn more nationally. The median is $52,720 for Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers versus $50,620 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics has the better 10-year outlook at 4.2% projected growth, compared to -15.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers get paid the most?

Ohio is the top-paying state for Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers at $85,070/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Ohio, Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers earn $85,070 vs. $48,710 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers salary breakdownView →Full Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary breakdownView →Best cities for Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by take-home payExplore →How to become a camera and photographic equipment repairersGuide →How to become a automotive service technicians and mechanicsGuide →