Camera Operator
M-50M Other Training and education jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 27-4031.00
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $63,110
- work over
40 h a week - 34%
- load index
from O*NET data - 2.1/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +8.5%
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
Whole occupation: all Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000027403113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 1,100 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000027403101).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000027403113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 1,100 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000027403101).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +8.5% jobs · about 180 openings a year (2,000 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +1.4% jobs · about 2,900 openings a year (36,400 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2019, n = 19 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2019, n = 19 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 63% · irregular 37% · seasonal 0%
Physical load 2.1 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.09, 6 measures) and an exposure index (2.11, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.09, 6 measures) and an exposure index (2.11, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing3.1
- Walking or running2.36
- Bending or twisting2.09
- Keeping balance1.91
- Kneeling or crawling1.79
- Climbing ladders1.3
Exposure
- Outdoors, all weather3.1
- Very hot or cold2.9
- Cramped space2.39
- Hazardous equipment2.13
- High places1.59
- Hazardous conditions1.59
- Protective gear1.07
Getting in
- License
- No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).
- Degree
- 7% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
- Experience
- None of related experience is the most common answer (30% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 3 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 6
- M Technical Director O*NET lists Media Technical Directors/Managers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.92.
- L Audio Video Technician O*NET lists Audio and Video Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.85.
- M Video Editor O*NET lists Film and Video Editors as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.78.
- I Electromechanical Technician O*NET lists Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.57. License: depends on the work.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.
- 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.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Active Listening
- Coordination
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000027403113, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 27-4031.00 Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, read 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. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
