Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in Connecticut make a median of $65,630 a year, or about $31.55 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.88), that's roughly $63,793 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,679/month, about 39.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Connecticut. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Connecticut?
About camera operators, television, video, and films
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Connecticut
Pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Connecticut runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,679/month, which is 39.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for camera operators, television, video, and films.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Connecticut
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by metro in Connecticut
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury | $68K | +3% | 40 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $53K | -20% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track camera operators, television, video, and film salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Connecticut numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a camera operators, television, video, and film afford a 2BR apartment alone in Connecticut?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 39.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,679/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Connecticut?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new camera operators, television, video, and films typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,220/month. At HUD’s $1,679/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 Connecticut?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $66K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Connecticut compare to the national average for camera operators, television, video, and films?
Connecticut pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in Connecticut?
The median is $65,630 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,000, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $89,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Connecticut?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,283/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,679/month, which eats 39.2% 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 Connecticut?
Connecticut has a Regional Price Parity of 102.88 (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 $63,793 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.