Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in Birmingham, AL
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in Birmingham, AL make a median of $42,490 a year, or about $20.43 an hour. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.64), which stretches that salary to about $46,366 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,266/month — about 43.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Birmingham?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Birmingham’s Regional Price Parity (91.64). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About camera operators, television, video, and films
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Birmingham, AL
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $95K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $102K | +48% | 5,520 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | +47% | 310 |
| Oregon | $94K | +36% | 290 |
| New York | $90K | +31% | 3,510 |
| New Jersey | $86K | +24% | 440 |
| Illinois | $83K | +21% | 870 |
| Arizona | $75K | +9% | 630 |
| Virginia | $72K | +4% | 510 |
| Maryland | $68K | -2% | 270 |
| Ohio | $67K | -3% | 500 |
| Texas | $64K | -6% | 1,530 |
| Connecticut | $64K | -7% | 230 |
| North Carolina | $62K | -10% | 300 |
| Georgia | $62K | -11% | 340 |
| Nevada | $61K | -11% | 410 |
| Florida | $61K | -11% | 1,770 |
| South Carolina | $60K | -13% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -14% | 270 |
| Missouri | $58K | -16% | 220 |
| Idaho | $57K | -17% | N/A |
| Indiana | $57K | -17% | 190 |
| Tennessee | $57K | -18% | 440 |
| Mississippi | $56K | -19% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $55K | -20% | 300 |
| Michigan | $55K | -20% | 440 |
| Washington | $53K | -22% | 630 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | -26% | 670 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | -28% | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | -29% | 70 |
| North Dakota | $48K | -30% | 50 |
| Vermont | $48K | -30% | 110 |
| Iowa | $48K | -30% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | -32% | 320 |
| Utah | $47K | -32% | 400 |
| Kansas | $46K | -32% | 120 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -33% | 420 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -33% | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -34% | 250 |
| Alabama | $45K | -34% | 120 |
| Hawaii | $42K | -39% | 110 |
| West Virginia | $39K | -43% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $39K | -43% | 50 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -43% | 110 |
| Maine | $36K | -48% | 70 |
| Montana | $35K | -49% | 130 |
| Arkansas | $33K | -53% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track camera operators, television, video, and film salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Birmingham numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in Birmingham, AL?
The median is $42,490 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,450, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $120,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Birmingham?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,852/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,266/month, which eats 44.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a camera operators, television, video, and film salary go in Birmingham?
Birmingham has a Regional Price Parity of 91.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median camera operators, television, video, and film salary is worth about $46,366 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do camera operators, television, video, and films get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.