Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,810 or more. The middle half of camera operators, television, video, and film in Washington earn between $63,640 and $104,330.
- $49K10th
- $64K25th
- $83KMedian
- $104K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,700 | $7,392 | $42.64 |
| Median | $83,320 | $6,943 | $40.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,640 | $5,303 | $30.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,330 | $8,694 | $50.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Camera operators, television, video, and film in Washington earn 12% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($100,990) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($83,210). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $74,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $88,700 | $83,320 | $49,080 | $131,810 | 500 |
| Washington, D.C. | $100,990 | $98,300 | $62,450 | $134,450 | 240 |
| United States | $83,210 | $74,990 | $38,520 | $135,180 | 21,550 |
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 Washington
On the average salary of $88,700, a single filer in Washington takes home about $66,659 a year, or $5,555 a month and $2,564 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $68,057 | $5,671 |
| Working in MD | $67,229 | $5,602 |
| Working in VA | $66,944 | $5,579 |
| Working in DC | $66,659 | $5,555 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for camera operators, television, video, and film? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $88,700 buys what about $81,463 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$75,610
- Richmond, VA$59,130
- Harrisburg, PA$45,410
- Philadelphia, PA$55,880
- Virginia Beach, VA$55,470
- Pittsburgh, PA$44,570
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).
- Los Angeles, CA$109,940
- San Francisco, CA$103,230
- Atlanta, GA$96,860
- Chicago, IL$95,720
- Phoenix, AZ$95,470
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary by city
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Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in Washington: questions
How much do camera operators, television, video, and film make an hour in Washington?
$42.65 an hour on average, and $40.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level camera operators, television, video, and film salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the camera operators, television, video, and film take-home pay in Washington?
About $66,659 a year ($5,555 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,700.
Do camera operators, television, video, and film earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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