What Does it Take to Be a Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator?
Job Description & Duties Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.
Daily Life Of a Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator
- Reprint originals for enlargement or in sections to be pieced together.
- Examine quality of film fades or dissolves for potential color corrections, using color analyzers.
- Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
- Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
- Maintain records, such as quantities or types of processing completed, materials used, or customer charges.
- Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices.
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What a Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator Should Know
When polled, Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Other Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator Job Titles
- Camera Operator
- Timer
- Print Finisher
- Photograph Retoucher
- Copy Camera Operator
Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 26,900 jobs in the United States for Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator. There will be an estimated 3,300 positions for Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator are Maryland, Nevada, and Georgia. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Hawaii, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Salary
The typical yearly salary for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators is somewhere between $21,050 and $53,200.

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators who work in New York, Maryland, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Arizona | $35,820 |
California | $47,360 |
Colorado | $37,170 |
Connecticut | $33,410 |
Delaware | $33,410 |
Florida | $32,930 |
Georgia | $26,750 |
Hawaii | $32,000 |
Idaho | $44,880 |
Illinois | $37,700 |
Indiana | $24,770 |
Iowa | $29,150 |
Kansas | $33,660 |
Kentucky | $26,780 |
Louisiana | $44,280 |
Maryland | $35,740 |
Massachusetts | $33,980 |
Michigan | $31,340 |
Minnesota | $35,540 |
Missouri | $34,720 |
Nebraska | $32,200 |
Nevada | $31,500 |
New Hampshire | $32,470 |
New Jersey | $33,790 |
New Mexico | $29,600 |
New York | $45,300 |
North Carolina | $31,350 |
North Dakota | $31,290 |
Ohio | $32,200 |
Oklahoma | $27,590 |
Oregon | $39,570 |
Pennsylvania | $25,920 |
South Carolina | $28,970 |
South Dakota | $30,780 |
Tennessee | $25,820 |
Texas | $30,420 |
Utah | $31,440 |
Virginia | $27,820 |
Washington | $35,690 |
West Virginia | $31,330 |
Wisconsin | $30,180 |
What Tools do Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- MySQL
- MongoDB
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Publisher
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
Becoming a Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator
Are there Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator?

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Sector

Below are examples of industries where Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators work:

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Photographic Process Worker or Processing Machine Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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