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Boston Career Explorer

Production

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.

Also called: Digital Printer Operator, Film Processor, Film Technician, Lab Technician, Photo Lab Specialist, Photo Lab Technician (Photographic Laboratory Technician)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$38,400
$18.46/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
Not published
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Short-term on-the-job training

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
$35,300$37,440$38,400$38,410$66,940

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

What you’d do

  • Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
  • Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
  • Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
  • Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
  • Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
  • Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.

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.

Moderate exposure35 of 100

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

  • AIOE 37
  • Language-model AIOE 33
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 34

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools could help with picking digital images for printing and with reviewing images for quality. Running and adjusting printing equipment and making prints to a customer's needs still depend on people. Federal growth for this job is not projected.

Likely to change

  • Selecting digital images for printing
  • Reviewing digital images for quality

Still relies on people

  • Setting and adjusting machine controls
  • Matching prints to customer requests

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

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Printing Press Operators

    Following job orders, checking color and alignment, and running print equipment carry over. Median pay is $52,180, compared with $38,400 now.

    Pay difference
    +$13,780 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +2.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Semiconductor Processing Technicians

    Careful quality inspection and following written work orders carry over. Median pay is $59,110, with moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$20,710 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +1.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Setting machine controls and checking products against specifications builds on your current work. Median pay is $51,220, with 3.9% projected Massachusetts growth.

    Pay difference
    +$12,820 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +3.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

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

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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