Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in North Carolina make a median of $62,720 a year, or about $30.15 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $67,688 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina
Pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in North Carolina runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by metro in North Carolina
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $64K | +2% | N/A |
| Raleigh-Cary | $63K | +0% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track camera operators, television, video, and film salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a camera operators, television, video, and film afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 31.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new camera operators, television, video, and films typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,582/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $63K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for camera operators, television, video, and films?
North Carolina pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — below the national median.
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in North Carolina?
The median is $62,720 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,040, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $85,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,134/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 31.1% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $67,688 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.