Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Films in Washington make a median of $60,250 a year, or about $28.97 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $59,063 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 43.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Washington?
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 Washington
Pay for camera operators, television, video, and film in Washington runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 43.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) 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, Washington
Entry-level camera operators, television, video, and films (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by metro in Washington
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $62K | +3% | 320 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $36K | -40% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track camera operators, television, video, and film salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a camera operators, television, video, and film afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 43.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new camera operators, television, video, and films typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,267/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Washington?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $60K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for camera operators, television, video, and films?
Washington pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do camera operators, television, video, and films make in Washington?
The median is $60,250 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,780, and experienced camera operators, television, video, and films can clear $130,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,204/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 43.5% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median camera operators, television, video, and film salary is worth about $59,063 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.