Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC make a median of $44,890 a year, or about $21.58 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $45,834 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,713/month — about 55.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $102K | +48% | 5,520 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | +47% | 310 |
| Oregon | $94K | +36% | 290 |
| New York | $90K | +31% | 3,510 |
| New Jersey | $86K | +24% | 440 |
| Illinois | $83K | +21% | 870 |
| Arizona | $75K | +9% | 630 |
| Virginia | $72K | +4% | 510 |
| Maryland | $68K | -2% | 270 |
| Ohio | $67K | -3% | 500 |
| Texas | $64K | -6% | 1,530 |
| Connecticut | $64K | -7% | 230 |
| North Carolina | $62K | -10% | 300 |
| Georgia | $62K | -11% | 340 |
| Nevada | $61K | -11% | 410 |
| Florida | $61K | -11% | 1,770 |
| South Carolina | $60K | -13% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -14% | 270 |
| Missouri | $58K | -16% | 220 |
| Idaho | $57K | -17% | N/A |
| Indiana | $57K | -17% | 190 |
| Tennessee | $57K | -18% | 440 |
| Mississippi | $56K | -19% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $55K | -20% | 300 |
| Michigan | $55K | -20% | 440 |
| Washington | $53K | -22% | 630 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | -26% | 670 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | -28% | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | -29% | 70 |
| North Dakota | $48K | -30% | 50 |
| Vermont | $48K | -30% | 110 |
| Iowa | $48K | -30% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | -32% | 320 |
| Utah | $47K | -32% | 400 |
| Kansas | $46K | -32% | 120 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -33% | 420 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -33% | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -34% | 250 |
| Alabama | $45K | -34% | 120 |
| Hawaii | $42K | -39% | 110 |
| West Virginia | $39K | -43% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $39K | -43% | 50 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -43% | 110 |
| Maine | $36K | -48% | 70 |
| Montana | $35K | -49% | 130 |
| Arkansas | $33K | -53% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track camera operators, television, video, and film salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $44,890 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,250, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $75,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,004/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 57% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 $45,834 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.