Personal care and service
Motion picture projectionist
Set up and operate motion picture projection and related sound reproduction equipment.
Median pay
$38,270
Growth to 2035
−6%
declining
Openings a year
300
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Motion picture projectionist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
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
Motion picture projectionist: 7% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Monitor operations to ensure that standards for sound and image projection quality are met.
- Start projectors and open shutters to project images onto screens.
- Open and close facilities according to rules and schedules.
- Operate equipment to show films in a number of theaters simultaneously.
- Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as rotating or replacing xenon bulbs, cleaning projectors and lenses, lubricating machinery, and keeping electrical contacts clean and tight.
- Set up and adjust picture projectors and screens to achieve proper size, illumination, and focus of images, and proper volume and tone of sound.
- Inspect projection equipment prior to operation to ensure proper working order.
- Perform minor repairs, such as replacing worn sprockets, or notify maintenance personnel of the need for major repairs.
Also called: Booth Operator · Cinema Projectionist · Digital Projectionist · Film Specialist · Motion Picture Projectionist · Movie Projectionist · Projection Technician · Projectionist
Outlook and AI
Motion picture projectionists held 1,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 1,400 by 2035 (−6%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Camera and photographic equipment repairers
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Lighting technician
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Audio and video technicians
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Prepress technicians and workers
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Camera operators, television, video, and film
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Sound engineering technician
- Motion picture projectionist vs. Broadcast technician