Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Salary
The median pay for a photographic process workers and processing machine operators in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is $34,900/year ($16.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.09), that's roughly $33,854 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,931/month, about 76.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington’s Regional Price Parity (103.09). 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.
About photographic process workers and processing machine operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
Pay for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $41K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,931/month, which is 77% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.09) 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 photographic process workers and processing machine operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Entry-level photographic process workers and processing machine operators (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $58K | +42% | 400 |
| Virginia | $47K | +17% | 110 |
| California | $47K | +17% | 740 |
| Florida | $47K | +15% | 450 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | +14% | 60 |
| Washington | $46K | +14% | 80 |
| Maryland | $46K | +12% | 200 |
| Iowa | $43K | +7% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $43K | +7% | 110 |
| Delaware | $42K | +4% | 30 |
| Oregon | $40K | -2% | 40 |
| Utah | $40K | -3% | 60 |
| Michigan | $39K | -5% | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $38K | -5% | N/A |
| Illinois | $38K | -7% | N/A |
| Indiana | $38K | -7% | 240 |
| Connecticut | $37K | -8% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -8% | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -8% | 160 |
| Arizona | $37K | -10% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $37K | -10% | 60 |
| Texas | $36K | -11% | 160 |
| North Carolina | $36K | -12% | 320 |
| Georgia | $35K | -14% | 50 |
| Missouri | $34K | -17% | 100 |
| South Carolina | $30K | -26% | 50 |
| Alabama | $30K | -26% | 40 |
| Ohio | $30K | -27% | 190 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -28% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 29 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track photographic process workers and processing machine operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a photographic process workers and processing machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 77% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,931/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new photographic process workers and processing machine operators typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,934/month. At HUD’s $1,931/month FMR, rent would take 100% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is photographic process workers and processing machine operator a high-paying job in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $35K here vs. $41K nationally.
How does Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington compare to the national average for photographic process workers and processing machine operators?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $41K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do photographic process workers and processing machine operators make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The median is $34,900 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,230, and experienced photographic process workers and processing machine operators can clear $47,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,507/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,931/month, which eats 77% 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 photographic process workers and processing machine operators salary go in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington has a Regional Price Parity of 103.09 (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 photographic process workers and processing machine operators salary is worth about $33,854 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do photographic process workers and processing machine operators 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.