Arts, design, media and sports
Camera operators, television, video, and film
Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.
Median pay
$74,990
Growth to 2035
+1%
little or no change
Openings a year
2,500
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Camera operators, television, video, and film
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to camera operators, television, video, and film
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Camera operators, television, video, and film: 34% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
- Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
- Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
- Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.
- Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
- Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
- Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
- Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
Also called: Camera Operator · Cameraman · Master Control Operator (MCO) · News Videographer · Production Technician · Studio Camera Operator · Television News Photographer · Videographer
Outlook and AI
Camera operators, television, video, and film held 32,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 33,000 by 2035 (+1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as robotic cameras replace services previously provided by camera operators.
Compare with
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Broadcast technician
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Audio and video technicians
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Producers and directors
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Avionics technician
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Camera and photographic equipment repairers
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Lighting technician
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Motion picture projectionist
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Sound engineering technician
- Camera operators, television, video, and film vs. Film and video editors