Salary Range
Below $25,000 to $100,000+Overview
Camera operators use motion picture cameras and equipment to photograph subjects or material for movies, television programs, or commercials. They may use 35-millimeter or 16-millimeter cameras or camcorders and a variety of films, lenses, tripods, and filters in their work. Many camera operators today use digital cameras, which provide the operator with a greater range of camera angles. Camera operators' instructions often come from cinematographers or directors of photography. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, as of May 2015, approximately 20,060 camera operators worked in the United States.
Minimum Education Level
Some Postsecondary TrainingCertification/License
NoneOutlook
Little Change or More Slowly than the AveragePersonality Traits
Conventional
Hands On
Technical
Career Ladder
Camera Operator
Camera Assistant
Production Assistant
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