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Boston Career Explorer

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.

Also called: Camera Operator, Cameraman, Master Control Operator (MCO), News Videographer, Production Technician, Studio Camera Operator

Median pay in Greater Boston
$62,810
$30.20/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
210
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−1.5%
50 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$32,980$51,650$62,810$99,900$133,730

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
  • Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
  • Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
  • Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.
  • Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
  • Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure33 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 35
  • Language-model AIOE 29
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 35

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

Camera operators have lower AI exposure, but observed AI use in this field is substantial. Tools may help with camera settings and framing, and robotic cameras are expected to take over some of the work, so Massachusetts is projected to lose about 1.5% of these jobs by 2034. Working with directors and crew, and framing shots on set, still depend on people.

Likely to change

  • Automatic camera controls and robotic camera moves
  • Focus, exposure, and zoom adjustments

Still relies on people

  • Talking with directors and crew about shots
  • Framing scenes to fit the director's vision

What federal projections say

“Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as robotic cameras replace services previously provided by camera operators.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

3 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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