Pay · Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film · California
Camera operator salary in California: $106,900 a year
What camera operators, television, video, and film earn in California, from the 2025 federal wage survey: 1st of 46 states and 43% above the U.S. median. Starting pay, the paycheck, the states around it and the jobs next to this one.
California at a look
Median pay, the state’s place among the states, and how many people do the work here.
From starting pay to top pay in California
Where most start, the middle, and the best-paid tenth — against the same points for the U.S.
California U.S.: $38,520 – $135,180
California and the states next to it
Neighbouring states on the map, not in the ranking — the move people actually weigh.
A median paycheck in California
$106,900 a year before tax. Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take $22,866 of it (21.4%) at 2026 rates.
- A month $7,003 $8,908 before tax
- Every two weeks $3,232 $4,112 before tax
- A week $1,616 $2,056 before tax
- A year $84,034 $106,900 before tax
- Take-home $84,034
- Federal income tax $14,688
- Medicare $1,550
A single filer taking the standard deduction, before state and local income taxes and before deductions such as retirement or health insurance. Some public employees, many teachers among them, pay into a state pension instead of Social Security. Rates: IRS, Rev. Proc. 2025-32: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments, SSA, 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment Fact Sheet.
Examples
Resumes made for this kind of work.
Real sheets, filled in end to end — for this job and the ones beside it.
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Camera operator pay in California: questions
What is the average camera operator salary in California?
The median is $106,900 a year: half of the 4,700 camera operators, television, video, and film in California earn more, half less. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $53,910, the best-paid tenth over $154,240.
What is the starting salary for camera operators, television, video, and film in California?
Most start around $53,910 a year — the pay of the lowest-paid tenth.
What rank is California for camera operator pay?
1st of 46 states. California pays the most, $106,900.
Do camera operators, television, video, and film earn more in California or Arizona?
California: $106,900 against $68,250 in Arizona — $38,650 more a year.
How much is a camera operator paycheck in California?
At the median, about $7,003 a month after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, from $8,908 before tax — for a single filer, before state income tax.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025, state estimates. bls.gov/oes “BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.”