SOC 27-4031 · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Salary in Boston, MA

The average salary for camera operators, television, video, and film in Boston, Massachusetts is $78,470 a year ($37.73 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $62,810: half of the 210 people in this job in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($83,210).

$78,470average per year

$37.73 / hourMedian $62,810Take-home ≈ $60,430

  • $33K10th
  • $52K25th
  • $63KMedian
  • $100K75th
  • $134K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

210people in this job
-6%vs U.S. average
#1 of 2Massachusetts metros
108cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay range in Boston

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,730 or more. The middle half of camera operators, television, video, and film in Boston earn between $51,650 and $99,900.

  • $33K10th
  • $52K25th
  • $63KMedian
  • $100K75th
  • $134K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$78,470$6,539$37.73
Median$62,810$5,234$30.20
Entry level (25th percentile)$51,650$4,304$24.83
Experienced (75th percentile)$99,900$8,325$48.03

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.

Camera operators, television, video, and film in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($79,290) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($83,210). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $74,990.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Boston$78,470$62,810$32,980$133,730210
Massachusetts$79,290$61,320$31,300$133,760370
United States$83,210$74,990$38,520$135,18021,550

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary after taxes in Boston

On the average salary of $78,470, a single filer in Boston takes home about $60,430 a year, or $5,036 a month and $2,324 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.

The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:

StatePer yearPer month
Working in NH$64,034$5,336
Working in MA$60,430$5,036

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.

Massachusetts paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Boston a good place for camera operators, television, video, and film? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $78,470 buys what about $72,479 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $78,470 is worth in another city

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in other Massachusetts cities

Boston ranks 1st of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

All Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salaries in Massachusetts

Highest-paying cities for camera operators, television, video, and film

Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,940).

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in Boston, MA.

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in Boston: questions

How much do camera operators, television, video, and film make an hour in Boston?

$37.73 an hour on average, and $30.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level camera operators, television, video, and film salary in Boston?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,650, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the camera operators, television, video, and film take-home pay in Boston?

About $60,430 a year ($5,036 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,470. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.

Do camera operators, television, video, and film earn more in Boston than elsewhere?

The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($83,210).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-4031; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.2%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).

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