Media and Communication Equipment Workers

How to become a Camera Operator

Official title: Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Also called: Camera Operator, Cameraman, Master Control Operator (MCO), News Videographer, Production Technician, Studio Camera Operator, Television News Photographer, Videographer

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.

Main 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.

How to become one

Film and video editors and camera operators typically need a bachelor's degree in a field related to film or broadcasting.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Camera Operator.
College: Communications & Media degrees, Offered by 31 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $74,990 a year The middle half earn $50,920 to $106,660.
About 32,600 people work in this job now, and about 33,000 are projected by 2035. (+1.3%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Camera Operator?

Film and video editors and camera operators typically need a bachelor's degree in a field related to film or broadcasting.

How much does a Camera Operator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $74,990 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $50,920 to $106,660.

Is a Camera Operator a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 32,600 people now and 33,000 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Camera Operator?

Usually. 69% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Camera Operator?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.