Life As a Video Camera Operator
Job Description: Operate television, video, or motion picture camera to record images or scenes for various purposes, such as TV broadcasts, advertising, video production, or motion pictures.
What do Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators do On a Daily Basis?
- View films to resolve problems of exposure control, subject and camera movement, changes in subject distance, and related variables.
- Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
- Reload camera magazines with fresh raw film stock.
- Read and analyze work orders and specifications to determine locations of subject material, work procedures, sequences of operations, and machine setups.
- Edit video for broadcast productions, including non-linear editing.
- Assemble studio sets and select and arrange cameras, film stock, audio, or lighting equipment to be used during filming.
Video Camera Operator Required Skills
These are the skills Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Motion Picture Cameraman
- Video Specialist
- Field Producer
- Production Technician
- Camera Person
Are There Job Opportunities for Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators?
In the United States, there were 25,100 jobs for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture in 2016.
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,600 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture are Texas, Georgia, and California.
Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Video Camera Operator Salary
The average yearly salary of a Video Camera Operator ranges between $25,790 and $102,470. The median salary is $54,570.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
New York |
$86,430 |
|
District of Columbia |
$77,770 |
|
California |
$77,540 |
|
Oregon |
$68,100 |
|
Washington |
$65,400 |
|
New Jersey |
$62,690 |
|
Arizona |
$61,580 |
|
Hawaii |
$59,780 |
|
Georgia |
$59,110 |
|
Michigan |
$58,090 |
|
Maryland |
$57,780 |
|
Arkansas |
$57,420 |
|
North Carolina |
$57,390 |
|
Texas |
$57,360 |
|
Ohio |
$55,600 |
|
Virginia |
$55,410 |
|
Colorado |
$55,220 |
|
Massachusetts |
$52,380 |
|
Tennessee |
$51,140 |
|
Utah |
$50,810 |
|
Florida |
$50,600 |
|
Missouri |
$50,150 |
|
Nevada |
$49,770 |
|
Connecticut |
$48,560 |
|
South Carolina |
$48,230 |
|
Louisiana |
$47,800 |
|
West Virginia |
$46,700 |
|
Oklahoma |
$46,550 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$46,350 |
|
Minnesota |
$45,600 |
|
Illinois |
$45,340 |
|
Alabama |
$44,610 |
|
Kansas |
$42,940 |
|
North Dakota |
$42,690 |
|
Wisconsin |
$42,110 |
|
Vermont |
$40,610 |
|
Indiana |
$40,610 |
|
Maine |
$39,790 |
|
Kentucky |
$38,670 |
|
Iowa |
$36,580 |
|
Montana |
$32,940 |
|
New Hampshire |
$32,020 |
|
South Dakota |
$30,480 |
What Tools do Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators:
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
- Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Office
- YouTube
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Microsoft Word
How to Become a Video Camera Operator
Individuals working as Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators?
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators might also be interested in the following careers:
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Those who work as Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Radio and Television Announcers
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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