Photographers vs Camera Operators, TV & Film
Median pay is about $30k higher for Camera Operators, TV & Film. Both usually start with the same education: high school.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Photographers | Camera Operators, TV & Film |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $44,660 | $74,990, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $36,050 | $50,920, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $62,740 | $106,660, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | -0.7% Declining | +1.3% Growing, higher |
| Openings a year | 10,700 | 2,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.4 / 5 | 2.6 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 63rd pct | 18th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Photographers
- Active Learning
Only Camera Operators, TV & Film
- Writing
Both lean on active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, critical thinking, monitoring.
More comparisons
Compare Photographers with
Compare Camera Operators, TV & Film with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.