Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in Tennessee make a median of $57,030 a year, or about $27.42 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $63,522 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 30.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Tennessee?
About camera operators, television, video, and films
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Tennessee runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by metro in Tennessee
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $61K | +7% | 250 |
| Knoxville | $53K | -7% | 70 |
| Memphis | $49K | -15% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track camera operators, television, video, and film salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a camera operators, television, video, and film afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new camera operators, television, video, and films typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,426/month. At HUD’s $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $57K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for camera operators, television, video, and films?
Tennessee pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in Tennessee?
The median is $57,030 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,440, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $131,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,989/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 30.5% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $63,522 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.