Leads the camera and lighting crews and creates the visual style of a film, series, commercial or music video. BLS does not publish separate figures for camera operators, television, video, and film; it counts them within camera operator, television, video, and film (SOC 27-4031), whose median pay is $74,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-4031
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Cinematographer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $74,990a year, or $36.05/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $135K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.3%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,50032,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202532.6K
- Projected 203533K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 32.6K Projected 2035 33K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school17.8%
- Some college14.6%
- Associate's60.7%
- Bachelor's6.9%
Highest education held by camera operators, television, video, and film Segment Value High school 17.8% Some college 14.6% Associate's 60.7% Bachelor's 6.9%
Also advertised as: Director of Photography, DP, DoP, Director of Photography (DP), Film Cinematographer.
Pay
How much do Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film make?
Every cinematographer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$74,990
Middle half earn $50,920 to $106,660
- 10th
- $38,520
- 25th
- $50,920
- 75th
- $106,660
- 90th
- $135,180
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,520 |
| 25th | $50,920 |
| Median | $74,990 |
| 75th | $106,660 |
| 90th | $135,180 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $74,990
- Median hourly wage
- $36.05/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $83,210
- People employed
- 21,550
Versus all US occupations
At $74,990, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film earn 47% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $24,010 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 10% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $135,180 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,520, a gap of 3.5×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 50% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($106,900), but once local prices are taken into account Illinois leads at $100,212 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $106,900 | $96,550 | 4,700 |
| 2Illinois | $100,170 | $100,212 | 1,060 |
| 3District of Columbia | $98,300 | $89,444 | 240 |
| 4New York | $93,410 | $86,554 | 2,930 |
| 5Georgia | $85,050 | $88,324 | 570 |
| 6Alaska | $83,620 | $81,693 | 50 |
| 7Colorado | $74,990 | $72,769 | 300 |
| 8Utah | $73,450 | $74,294 | 240 |
| 9Arizona | $68,250 | $67,791 | 520 |
| 10Maryland | $65,870 | $62,758 | 290 |
Job outlook
Is Cinematographer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | +1.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film to change 1.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,500 openings are projected each year, 7.7% of the 32,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Cinematographer
Many cinematographers study film production or cinematography at film schools such as the AFI Conservatory, NYU or USC, while others learn by shooting short films, music videos and commercials. The traditional route runs through the camera department as a camera assistant and operator, while others build a reel shooting independent work.
Union cinematographers in the United States are represented by the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600). The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) is an invitation-only honorary society whose members use the ASC letters after their name, and it publishes American Cinematographer magazine.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 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 operators, television, video, and film.
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree60.7%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)17.8%
- Some College Courses14.6%
- Bachelor's Degree6.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 60.7% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 17.8% |
| Some College Courses | 14.6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 6.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Cinematographer do?
The cinematographer, or director of photography, is responsible for how a production looks. Working with the director from pre-production, they decide on cameras, lenses, aspect ratio, lighting style and camera movement, and they plan shots for each scene through storyboards, shot lists and location scouts.
On set, the cinematographer leads the camera department and works closely with the gaffer and key grip to light and frame each setup. They decide exposure, composition and when a take is technically right. In post-production they supervise the color grade with the colorist so the final image matches their intent. On smaller productions, the cinematographer often operates the camera personally.
Day-to-day tasks
- Develop the visual style of a project with the director
- Choose cameras, lenses and formats
- Plan shots, lighting and camera movement
- Scout locations for light and camera positions
- Lead camera, lighting and grip departments on set
- Set exposure and approve framing for each take
- Supervise the final color grade
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Cinematographers work long shoot days on stages and on location, often traveling widely. Prep includes scouting and testing, and post includes color sessions. The job involves standing, moving with the camera and working in all weather, and most work is freelance and project-based.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing 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 lot
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
- Active Listening3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Speaking3.3
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Writing2.9
- Active Learning2.9
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Persuasion2.9
- Service Orientation2.9
- Operations Monitoring2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Electronic mail software
- Web page creation and editing 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 Cinematographer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code AER) built on O*NET's Camera Operator, Television, Video, and Film profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cinematographer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 5 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Artistic5.3
- Realistic4.9
- Conventional3.6
- Enterprising3.2
- Investigative2.0
- Social1.8
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 Cinematographer
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Camera Operator, Television, Video, and Film
$74,990median a year
Most earn $39K to $135K
+1.3%Bachelor's - Architecture and Engineering
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician
$73,900median a year
Most earn $48K to $110K
+2.6%Associate's - Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with camera operators, television, video, and film highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Cinematographer$74,990
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Cinematographer | $74,990 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Cinematographer appears on
Questions
Cinematographer: frequently asked questions
How much do Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for camera operators, television, video, and film. It counts them within camera operator, television, video, and film, whose median pay is $74,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $50,920 and $106,660, and the top 10% earn $135,180 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cinematographer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 60.7% hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree.
Is Cinematographer a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.3% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cinematographer do?
The cinematographer, or director of photography, is responsible for how a production looks. A typical task: develop the visual style of a project with the director. Employers most often ask for Desktop publishing software, Document management software, Graphics or photo imaging software.
Which states pay Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film the most?
The highest state medians for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film are California ($106,900), Illinois ($100,170), District of Columbia ($98,300) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Illinois moves to the top at $100,212.
What personality type suits a Cinematographer?
O*NET scores Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film highest on the Artistic, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INTJ 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.