Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in Georgia make a median of $85,050 a year, or about $40.89 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $92,556 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 26.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Georgia?
About camera operators, television, video, and films
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What this looks like in Georgia
Georgia sits well above the national pay line for camera operators, television, video, and film, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,434/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $123K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by metro in Georgia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $76K | -10% | 360 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a camera operators, television, video, and film afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 26.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for camera operators, television, video, and films in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new camera operators, television, video, and films typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,175/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Georgia?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $85K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for camera operators, television, video, and films?
Georgia pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in Georgia?
The median is $85,050 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,250, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $159,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,333/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 26.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a camera operators, television, video, and film salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $92,556 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.