Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media · SOC 27-4031
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 27-4031 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 16.5%
- High · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 48/100
- Moderate friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $74,990
- H-1B offered wage $71,620; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- 3,200
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +1.2%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 4
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 4,953 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
Best transitions from here
Explore all pathways→Lower AI-exposure roles that reuse your skills, ranked by a transition score (skills that transfer, safety gain, pay and retraining effort).
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Skills to build:
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AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~42.4% of this role but only ~16.5% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.
Common titles: Camera Operator, Cameraman, Master Control Operator (MCO), News Videographer, Production Technician, Studio Camera Operator
Representative Tasks
- •Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
- •Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
- •Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
- •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.
- •Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Determine technical requirements of productions or projects.
- •Operate still or video cameras or related equipment.
- •Edit audio or video recordings.
- •Coordinate activities of production personnel.
- •Set up still or video cameras or related equipment.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 16.5% | 18.3% |
| Outlook | Bright ↗ | 18% Bright |
| Median Salary | $74,990 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 83/100 | N/A |