Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in California make a median of $106,900 a year, or about $51.39 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $100,716 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 37.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $107K get you in California?
About camera operators, television, video, and films
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for camera operators, television, video, and film, local pay runs about 43% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 38.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $107K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by metro in California
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $108K | +1% | 3,540 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $99K | -8% | 280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $85K | -21% | 50 |
| Fresno | $80K | -25% | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $71K | -33% | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $57K | -47% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track camera operators, television, video, and film salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a camera operators, television, video, and film afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $107K, rent takes 38.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for camera operators, television, video, and films in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new camera operators, television, video, and films typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,235/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is camera operators, television, video, and film a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 43% above the national median — $107K here vs. $75K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for camera operators, television, video, and films?
California pays $107K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +43%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in California?
The median is $106,900 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,910, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $154,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $107K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,459/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 38.3% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median camera operators, television, video, and film salary is worth about $100,716 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.