Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers earn a median of $52,720 per year ($25.35/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 15.5% through 2035, with about 100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-9061
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $52,720a year, or $25.35/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $34KTop 10% $84K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -15.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−15.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −15.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1001,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.8K
- Projected 20351.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.8K Projected 2035 1.5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school13.3%
- High school32.3%
- Certificate28.5%
- Some college10.8%
- Associate's8%
- Bachelor's7.1%
Highest education held by camera and photographic equipment repairers Segment Value Less than high school 13.3% High school 32.3% Certificate 28.5% Some college 10.8% Associate's 8% Bachelor's 7.1%
Also advertised as: Camera Repair Technician, Camera Repairman, Camera Technician, Photo Equipment Technician, Photo Technologist, Photographic Equipment Repair Technician.
Pay
How much do Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers make?
Every camera and photographic equipment repairer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$52,720
Middle half earn $41,630 to $66,070
- 10th
- $34,320
- 25th
- $41,630
- 75th
- $66,070
- 90th
- $83,940
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 |
| 25th | $41,630 |
| Median | $52,720 |
| 75th | $66,070 |
| 90th | $83,940 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $52,720
- Median hourly wage
- $25.35/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $56,040
- People employed
- 1,650
Versus all US occupations
At $52,720, Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers earn 3% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $1,740 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 14% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $83,940 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,320, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 26% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Ohio pays the most at $85,070, and still leads at $91,696 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Ohio | $85,070 | $91,696 | 80 |
| 2Virginia | $65,170 | $64,458 | N/A |
| 3New Jersey | $60,290 | $55,411 | 40 |
| 4California | $59,770 | $53,983 | N/A |
| 5Arizona | $59,080 | $58,683 | N/A |
| 6Nevada | $52,700 | $52,711 | N/A |
| 7Georgia | $49,320 | $51,219 | 60 |
| 8New York | $48,280 | $44,736 | 50 |
| 9Kansas | $46,920 | $52,094 | N/A |
| 10Tennessee | $44,940 | $48,917 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -15.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers | −15.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers to change -15.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 300 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 5.6% of the 1,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as camera and photographic equipment repairers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)32.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate28.5%
- Less than a High School Diploma13.3%
- Some College Courses10.8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 32.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 28.5% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 13.3% |
| Some College Courses | 10.8% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer do?
Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment.
Day-to-day tasks
- Adjust cameras, photographic mechanisms, or equipment such as range and view finders, shutters, light meters, or lens systems, using hand tools.
- Test equipment performance, focus of lens system, diaphragm alignment, lens mounts, or film transport, using precision gauges.
- Disassemble equipment to gain access to defect, using hand tools.
- Requisition parts or materials.
- Measure parts to verify specified dimensions or settings, such as camera shutter speed or light meter reading accuracy, using measuring instruments.
- Clean and lubricate cameras and polish camera lenses, using cleaning materials and work aids.
- Calibrate and verify accuracy of light meters, shutter diaphragm operation, or lens carriers, using timing instruments.
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, diagrams, instructions, or specifications to determine needed repairs, fabrication method, and operation sequence.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Writing2.6
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Troubleshooting3.9
- Repairing3.8
- Equipment Maintenance3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Equipment Selection3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 3.9 |
| Repairing | 3.8 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.4 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Equipment Selection | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Industrial control software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.9
- Conventional4.8
- Investigative2.7
- Artistic1.9
- Social1.2
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer
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$40,610median a year
Most earn $30K to $69K
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- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
$74,090median a year
Most earn $47K to $106K
+0.3%Certificate - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
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Most earn $36K to $72K
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More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with camera and photographic equipment repairers highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer$52,720
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer | $52,720 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer appears on
Questions
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer: frequently asked questions
How much do Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers make?
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers earn a median of $52,720 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $25.35/hr. The middle half earn between $41,630 and $66,070. The top 10% earn $83,940 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 32.3% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 15.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 300 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer do?
Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment. A core O*NET task: adjust cameras, photographic mechanisms, or equipment such as range and view finders, shutters, light meters, or lens systems, using hand tools. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers the most?
The highest state medians for Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers are Ohio ($85,070), Virginia ($65,170), New Jersey ($60,290) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairer?
O*NET scores Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.