Occupation Summary

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

O*NET 27-4031.00

Description:

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

Annual Wages:
$70,582.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 4.78%.
Education Level:
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
  2. Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
  3. Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
  4. Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
  5. Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
  6. 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.
  7. Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
  8. Instruct camera operators regarding camera setups, angles, distances, movement, and variables and cues for starting and stopping filming.
  9. Read charts and compute ratios to determine variables such as lighting, shutter angles, filter factors, and camera distances.
  10. Set up cameras, optical printers, and related equipment to produce photographs and special effects.
  11. View films to resolve problems of exposure control, subject and camera movement, changes in subject distance, and related variables.
  12. Read and analyze work orders and specifications to determine locations of subject material, work procedures, sequences of operations, and machine setups.
  13. Edit video for broadcast productions, including non-linear editing.
  14. Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
  15. Assemble studio sets and select and arrange cameras, film stock, audio, or lighting equipment to be used during filming.
  16. Test, clean, maintain, and repair broadcast equipment, including testing microphones, to ensure proper working condition.
  17. Stay current with new technologies in the field by reading trade magazines.
  18. Set up and operate electric news gathering (ENG) microwave vehicles to gather and edit raw footage on location to send to television affiliates for broadcast.
  19. Direct studio productions.
  20. Design graphics for studio productions.
  21. Write new scripts for broadcasts.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film employed Annual Growth Rate
Motion picture and video industries 26.8 1.61
Advertising, public relations, and related services 2.6 0.00
Other professional, scientific, and technical services 2.2 -2.84
Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services 2.2 -1.33
Employment services 2 0.00


Labor Market Information


2023 Statewide average hourly wage $33.93
2023 National average hourly wage $34.56
2022 National employment 36,500
2022 Texas employment 1,841
Texas projected employment by 2032 1,929
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 169




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
86.80%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
80.60%
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
76.80%
Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
76.20%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
58.00%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
55.20%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
55.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
54.40%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
53.00%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
52.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
75.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
65.00%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
65.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
65.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
65.00%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
62.40%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
62.40%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
62.40%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
62.40%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
60.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
75.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
75.00%
Far Vision
The ability to see details at a distance.
75.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
72.40%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
72.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
70.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
70.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
67.60%
Visual Color Discrimination
The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
67.60%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
65.00%


  • Thinking Creatively
    -- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    -- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Aircraft guidance systems: DJI Go 4; DJI Pilot; DroneDeploy; DroneLogbook; Landing pad;

Airships: Fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles UAV; Multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles UAV;

Automated film processor: Automatic film processors;

Camera controllers: Video positioning equipment; External monitors;

Camera harnesses: Mobile mountings;

Camera lens: Zoom lenses;

Camera lens filter: Videocamera lens filters;

Camera tripods: Videocamera tripods;

Cinematographic cameras: Movie production cameras;

Digital camcorders or video cameras: Remotely controlled cameras; Studio cameras; Electronic field production EFP cameras; Batteries;

Distortion meter: Distortion analyzers;

Electronic viewfinder: Directors' viewfinders;

Equalizers: Audio equalizers;

Flash memory storage card: Flash memory data storage devices;

Frequency analyzers: Real-time spectrum analyzers;

Gas generators: Power generators;

Headphones: Circumaural headphones;

Hex keys: Hex key sets;

Lux or light meter: Digital light meters;

Multimeters: Digital multimeters;

Nut drivers: Precision nut drivers;

Oscilloscopes: Waveform monitors;

Outside broadcasting van: Satellite broadcasting trucks;

Radio frequency transmitters or receivers: Wireless audio/video AV receivers; Wireless audio/video AV transmitters;

Screwdrivers: Straight blade screwdrivers;

Signal generators: Television signal generators;

Soldering iron: Gun solder irons; Pencil solder irons;

Specialty wrenches: Iris rod wrenches;

Stage or projection or studio lighting system: Studio lighting;

Tape measures: Measuring tapes;

Torx keys: Torx driver sets;

Traffic cones or delineators: Safety barriers;

Video monitors: Portable video monitors;

Wire lug crimping tool: Cable compression crimp tools;

Workshop cranes: Portable cranes;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Litchi; Pix4D Pix4Dcapture;

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Google Drive;

Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign;

Document management software: Adobe Acrobat;

Electronic mail software: Email software;

Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator; Adobe Creative Cloud software; Adobe Photoshop;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Video creation and editing software: YouTube; Adobe Premiere Pro; Apple Final Cut Pro; Apple Final Cut Studio; Avid Technology audio visual editing software; DaVinci Resolve; Adobe After Effects;

Web page creation and editing software: Adobe Dreamweaver;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film include:
  • 27-4011.00 Audio and Video Technicians
  • 49-2091.00 Avionics Technicians
  • 27-4012.00 Broadcast Technicians
  • 49-9061.00 Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
  • 17-3024.00 Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
  • 27-4032.00 Film and Video Editors
  • 27-4015.00 Lighting Technicians
  • 27-2012.05 Media Technical Directors/Managers
  • 39-3021.00 Motion Picture Projectionists
  • 27-4014.00 Sound Engineering Technicians


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about film and video editors and camera operators, visit: Motion Picture Editors Guild
  • Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
  • Film and Video Editors

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.