Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in Maine make a median of $37,590 a year, or about $18.07 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $58K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $38,475 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 49.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Maine?
About camera operators, television, video, and films
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What this looks like in Maine
Pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Maine runs about 50% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,281/month, which is 49.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) 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, Maine
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $121K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $58K | +54% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track camera operators, television, video, and film salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a camera operators, television, video, and film afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 49.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new camera operators, television, video, and films typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,969/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Maine?
Local pay runs 50% below the national median — $38K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for camera operators, television, video, and films?
Maine pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -50%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in Maine?
The median is $37,590 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,810, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $154,230. The mean (average) is $58,270, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,576/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 49.7% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $38,475 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.