SOC 51-9151 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators — Los Angeles
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in Los Angeles, CA is $47,450 per year, 16.8% above the national median of $40,610.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in Los Angeles, CA is $47,450 per year, 16.8% above the national median of $40,610. Half of workers earn between $40,020 and $77,640. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,650 and the ninetieth at $84,430.
Employment stands at 280, or 0.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $56,550. Of the 740 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 581st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,650 | −4.8% |
| 25th | $40,020 | −1.5% |
| Median (50th) | $47,450 | +16.8% |
| 75th | $77,640 | +91.2% |
| 90th | $84,430 | +107.9% |
| Mean | $56,850 | +40.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $56,550 | — | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $54,400 | 130 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $46,810 | 40 | |
| 4 | Riverside | $43,240 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Los Angeles run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $47,450 buys what $42,864 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,450as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,864US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,450 a year, 16.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,650 to $84,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $56,550.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in Los Angeles, CA?
The median annual wage is $47,450, or $22.81 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 $40,610, so pay in Los Angeles, CA is 16.8% 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 Los Angeles, CA earns more than $84,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,650 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 San Jose, at $56,550 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 280 jobs in this occupation in Los Angeles, CA. 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.
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