SOC 27-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — Illinois
Illinois · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in Illinois is $100,170 per year, well above the national median of $74,990.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in Illinois is $100,170 per year, well above the national median of $74,990. The gap of 33.6% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $38,840 at the tenth percentile to more than $133,940 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $69,900 to $126,860.
The area has 1,060 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. Among the 46 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 2nd by median wage. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $102,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 132nd of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,840 | −48.2% |
| 25th | $69,900 | −6.8% |
| Median (50th) | $100,170 | +33.6% |
| 75th | $126,860 | +69.2% |
| 90th | $133,940 | +78.6% |
| Mean | $96,520 | +28.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $102,370 | 740 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $100,170 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$100,170as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$100,170US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $100,170 a year, 33.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,840 to $133,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,060 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 46 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $102,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $100,170, or $48.16 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $74,990, so pay in Illinois is 33.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $133,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,840 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $102,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,060 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data