Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers (SOC 49-9061) earn a median $52,720 a year ($25.35 an hour) in the United States, with 1,650 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Ohio.
What camera and photographic equipment repairers do
Camera and photographic equipment repairers repair and adjust cameras and other photographic equipment, among it commercial video and motion picture cameras. To diagnose a malfunction they examine the cameras, equipment, processed film or laboratory reports using work aids and specifications, and read and interpret engineering drawings, diagrams, instructions and specifications to determine the repairs needed, the fabrication method and the sequence of operations. The repairer disassembles the equipment with hand tools to reach the defect, then adjusts range finders, view finders, shutters, light meters and lens systems with hand tools. Performance is tested with precision gauges, checking the focus of the lens system, diaphragm alignment, lens mounts and film transport, and light meters, shutter diaphragm operation and lens carriers are calibrated and verified with timing instruments. Cameras are cleaned and lubricated and lenses polished, and parts and materials are requisitioned as needed. Camera mechanic, camera technician and aircraft photographic equipment repairer are among the listed titles.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Aircraft Photographic Equipment Mechanic, Aircraft Photographic Equipment Repairer, Camera Machinist, Camera Mechanic, Camera Prototyping Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.50 | $20.02 | $25.35 | $31.77 | $40.35 | $26.94 | 1,650 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $41,630 | $52,720 | $66,070 | $83,940 | $56,040 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where camera and photographic equipment repairers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $23.60 | $24.47 | $40.90 | $42.72 | $42.72 | $36.16 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $49,090 | $50,900 | $85,070 | $88,860 | $88,860 | $75,200 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $20.13 | $20.13 | $31.33 | $34.77 | $34.77 | $28.69 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $41,870 | $41,870 | $65,170 | $72,310 | $72,310 | $59,680 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $18.81 | $20.77 | $28.99 | $37.78 | $44.65 | $29.60 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $39,120 | $43,200 | $60,290 | $78,580 | $92,870 | $61,560 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.50 | $20.02 | $28.74 | $34.65 | $42.58 | $29.37 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $34,320 | $41,630 | $59,770 | $72,060 | $88,560 | $61,080 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $25.13 | $28.34 | $28.41 | $28.41 | $36.14 | $28.47 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $52,270 | $58,940 | $59,080 | $59,080 | $75,160 | $59,210 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $12.52 | $13.34 | $16.32 | $31.43 | $52.58 | $25.20 | 90 | 0.01 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $26,050 | $27,750 | $33,940 | $65,380 | $109,370 | $52,420 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $23.60 | $24.47 | $40.90 | $42.72 | $42.72 | $36.16 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $49,090 | $50,900 | $85,070 | $88,860 | $88,860 | $75,200 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $16.44 | $20.90 | $23.71 | $24.02 | $28.06 | $22.92 | 60 | 0.01 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $34,200 | $43,470 | $49,320 | $49,960 | $58,350 | $47,680 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $15.50 | $16.00 | $23.21 | $29.09 | $39.52 | $25.38 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $32,240 | $33,280 | $48,280 | $60,500 | $82,200 | $52,790 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $18.81 | $20.77 | $28.99 | $37.78 | $44.65 | $29.60 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $39,120 | $43,200 | $60,290 | $78,580 | $92,870 | $61,560 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $40.31 | $42.69 | $42.72 | $42.72 | $42.72 | $42.20 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $83,840 | $88,790 | $88,860 | $88,860 | $88,860 | $87,780 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.00 | $22.83 | $28.99 | $34.11 | $39.52 | $28.36 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $33,280 | $47,490 | $60,290 | $70,940 | $82,200 | $58,980 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $16.50 | $20.02 | $28.74 | $34.64 | $34.65 | $28.19 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $34,320 | $41,630 | $59,770 | $72,060 | $72,080 | $58,630 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $25.13 | $28.34 | $28.41 | $28.41 | $36.14 | $28.47 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $52,270 | $58,940 | $59,080 | $59,080 | $75,160 | $59,210 | ||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $25.33 | $25.34 | $25.34 | $25.35 | $32.48 | $29.58 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $52,690 | $52,700 | $52,700 | $52,720 | $67,550 | $61,530 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.00 | $22.83 | $28.99 | $34.11 | $39.52 | $28.36 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $33,280 | $47,490 | $60,290 | $70,940 | $82,200 | $58,980 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $16.44 | $20.90 | $24.02 | $24.02 | $28.06 | $23.00 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $34,200 | $43,470 | $49,960 | $49,960 | $58,350 | $47,830 | ||||
Top industries employing camera and photographic equipment repairers
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 13.9% of camera and photographic equipment repairers nationally (230 jobs) at a median $51,320 a year ($24.67 an hour), followed by Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (10.9%) and Elementary and Secondary Schools (2.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 230 | 13.9% | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423400 | 180 | 10.9% | $69,310 | $33.32 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 40 | 2.4% | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811400 | 40 | 2.4% | $41,870 | $20.13 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 30 | 1.8% | $68,110 | $32.74 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,650). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $38,200 for camera and photographic equipment repairers in May 2021 and $52,720 in May 2025, with employment of 2,340 and 1,650.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $38,200 | $18.36 | 2,340 |
| May 2022 | $44,060 | $21.18 | 2,120 |
| May 2023 | $46,850 | $22.52 | 2,540 |
| May 2024 | $49,300 | $23.70 | 2,010 |
| May 2025 | $52,720 | $25.35 | 1,650 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
13 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio profile | $40.90 | $85,070 | $49,090 | $88,860 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.37 |
| 2 | Virginia profile | $31.33 | $65,170 | $41,870 | $72,310 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | New Jersey profile | $28.99 | $60,290 | $39,120 | $92,870 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.93 |
| 4 | California profile | $28.74 | $59,770 | $34,320 | $88,560 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Arizona profile | $28.41 | $59,080 | $52,270 | $75,160 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Nevada profile | $25.34 | $52,700 | $52,690 | $67,550 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Georgia profile | $23.71 | $49,320 | $34,200 | $58,350 | 60 | 0.01 | 1.09 |
| 8 | New York profile | $23.21 | $48,280 | $32,240 | $82,200 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.51 |
| 9 | Kansas profile | $22.56 | $46,920 | $35,160 | $56,510 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | Tennessee profile | $21.61 | $44,940 | $37,420 | $64,000 | ** | ** | ** |
| 11 | Florida profile | $19.85 | $41,290 | $41,290 | $47,230 | 30 | 0.00 | 0.33 |
| 12 | North Carolina profile | $19.78 | $41,140 | $28,450 | $79,810 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.61 |
| 13 | Texas profile | $16.32 | $33,940 | $26,050 | $109,370 | 90 | 0.01 | 0.57 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9060), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9061 Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9061, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9061.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.