Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in Montana make a median of $50,910 a year, or about $24.48 an hour. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $52,485 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Montana?
About camera operators, television, video, and films
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Montana runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $51K | +0% | N/A |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a camera operators, television, video, and film afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 33% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new camera operators, television, video, and films typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,566/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $51K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for camera operators, television, video, and films?
Montana pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in Montana?
The median is $50,910 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,100, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $65,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,421/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 33% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $52,485 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.