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Salary comparison

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators: Who Earns More?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators out-earn Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators by $4K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators land at $40,610 and Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators at $44,650. The education gap is real: photographic process workers and processing machine operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while miscellaneous assemblers and fabricator programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators is New York ($57,760); for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators it's District of Columbia ($50,330).

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Median salary
$40,610
$44,650
Hourly rate
$19.52/hr
$21.47/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$30,090
$33,280
Senior level (90th %)
$68,800
$64,880
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
4,800
1,405,030
Job growth (10-year)
-2.6%
-0.1%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
New York
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators median pay.

State
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
California
$47,320
$47,720
Wisconsin
$46,480
$45,670
Washington
$46,280
$48,260
Maryland
$45,600
$45,450
Iowa
$43,310
$48,920
Oregon
$39,940
$46,910
Massachusetts
$38,400
$46,720
Indiana
$37,670
$45,550
Connecticut
$37,460
$45,170
Kentucky
$37,430
$47,950
Arizona
$36,650
$45,080
Louisiana
$36,500
$45,070
Missouri
$33,540
$46,480
South Carolina
$30,010
$45,500
Ohio
$29,770
$45,720

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators earn more nationally. The median is $40,610 for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators versus $44,650 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators has the better 10-year outlook at -0.1% projected growth, compared to -2.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators at $57,760/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators earn $47,320 vs. $47,720 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary breakdownView →Full Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators salary breakdownView →Best cities for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators by take-home payExplore →How to become a photographic process workers and processing machine operatorsGuide →How to become a miscellaneous assemblers and fabricatorsGuide →