How Much Do Videographers Make?
Videographers may film private events, such as weddings, for their clients. They may also shoot instructional videos that can be posted to client websites. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that videographers may work long hours due to intensive production schedules. These professionals typically complete postsecondary training at universities, junior colleges or trade schools, according to the bureau.
Other People Are Reading
-
Features
-
As of May 2010, the annual mean wage for camera operators, including videographers, was $48,450. Salaries ranged from $20,300 for the bottom 10 percent to $81,270 for the top 10 percent. The median wage for this occupation was $40,390, according to the bureau's Occupational Employment Statistics survey. To calculate mean annual wages, the bureau multiplied the mean hourly wage of $23.29 by 2,080 --- the average number of hours worked by a full-time employee.
Industries
-
Radio and television broadcasting was the industry that reported the highest employment levels for videographers, with a mean annual wage of $41,630. Second was the motion picture and video industry, with a mean annual wage of $52,380. The federal executive branch was the industry that paid the highest mean annual wage to videographers: $65,840. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that, as of May 2010, there were 16,760 camera operators employed in the U.S.
-
Locations
-
The five states that employed the largest numbers of videographers were California, New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois. Salaries in these states ranged from $35,620 in Texas to $61,540 in California. Geographically, the highest annual mean wage was paid to videographers in the District of Columbia, who earned $66,250. Massachusetts, at $65,470; California, at $61,540; Maryland, at $58,210; and South Carolina, at $55,600, rounded out the five top-paying states for this occupation. As of May 2010, five of the 10 highest-paying metropolitan areas for camera operators were in California, with Salinas coming in first at $75,040 per year.
Considerations
-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for camera operators, including videographers, will grow by 11 percent through the year 2018. Job growth for videographers will be especially good in the field of interactive productions. However, competition for available jobs will be keen because the number of people who want to work as videographers is larger than the number of job openings. Employment prospects will be best for camera operators who have strong computer skills, due to the switch to digital equipment.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
