Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $67,230 or more. The middle half of camera operators, television, video, and film in Madison earn between $36,990 and $62,040.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $51KMedian
- $62K75th
- $67K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,870 | $4,406 | $25.42 |
| Median | $50,680 | $4,223 | $24.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,990 | $3,082 | $17.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,040 | $5,170 | $29.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Camera operators, television, video, and film in Madison earn 5% less than the Wisconsin average ($55,880) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($83,210). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $74,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $52,870 | $50,680 | $32,220 | $67,230 | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $55,880 | $52,810 | $32,280 | $85,320 | 300 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $52,870, a single filer in Madison takes home about $42,943 a year, or $3,579 a month and $1,652 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for camera operators, television, video, and film? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $52,870 buys what about $54,344 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 2nd of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Milwaukee pays the most ($61,240).
- Milwaukee$61,240
- Madison$52,870
All Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film salaries in Wisconsin
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 Madison: questions
How much do camera operators, television, video, and film make an hour in Madison?
$25.42 an hour on average, and $24.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level camera operators, television, video, and film salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the camera operators, television, video, and film take-home pay in Madison?
About $42,943 a year ($3,579 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,870.
Do camera operators, television, video, and film earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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