Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators (SOC 51-9151) earn a median $40,610 a year ($19.52 an hour) in the United States, with 4,800 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What photographic process workers and processing machine operators do
Photographic process workers and processing machine operators develop and print photographic images from film or digital files. In digital work, they select images for printing, specify quantities, and send them to printers using software; they also review computer-processed images for quality and operate scanners to digitize negatives and prints. In film processing, they apply standard techniques to produce negatives, slides, and color or black-and-white prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols. Work with film and with digital media falls under the same classification. Machine controls are set and adjusted for the type of operation and material. Some workers do precision work such as editing negatives and prints. Processing machines are filled with solutions such as developer, fixers, bleaches, and washes, which the worker measures and mixes according to formulas.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Air Brush Artist, Airbrush Artist, Art Tracer, Automatic Developer, Automatic Mounter.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.47 | $16.91 | $19.52 | $24.11 | $33.08 | $22.14 | 4,800 |
| Annual | $30,090 | $35,170 | $40,610 | $50,150 | $68,800 | $46,050 | ||
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 photographic process workers and processing machine operators 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 | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.99 | $23.42 | $27.77 | $39.18 | $51.19 | $32.42 | 400 | 0.04 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $39,490 | $48,710 | $57,760 | $81,490 | $106,470 | $67,440 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $15.28 | $17.76 | $22.78 | $26.01 | $28.52 | $22.09 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $31,790 | $36,940 | $47,380 | $54,110 | $59,310 | $45,940 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.22 | $19.24 | $22.75 | $32.27 | $40.59 | $26.72 | 740 | 0.04 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $37,900 | $40,020 | $47,320 | $67,120 | $84,430 | $55,580 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.02 | $16.76 | $22.52 | $23.67 | $25.39 | $20.34 | 450 | 0.05 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $27,080 | $34,860 | $46,840 | $49,230 | $52,800 | $42,300 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $17.89 | $19.80 | $22.35 | $27.96 | $29.81 | $23.04 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $37,210 | $41,180 | $46,480 | $58,150 | $61,990 | $47,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.22 | $19.24 | $22.75 | $32.27 | $40.59 | $26.72 | 740 | 0.04 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $37,900 | $40,020 | $47,320 | $67,120 | $84,430 | $55,580 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.02 | $16.76 | $22.52 | $23.67 | $25.39 | $20.34 | 450 | 0.05 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $27,080 | $34,860 | $46,840 | $49,230 | $52,800 | $42,300 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.99 | $23.42 | $27.77 | $39.18 | $51.19 | $32.42 | 400 | 0.04 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $39,490 | $48,710 | $57,760 | $81,490 | $106,470 | $67,440 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $16.67 | $16.67 | $17.11 | $22.21 | $28.04 | $19.99 | 320 | 0.07 | 2.13 |
| Annual | $34,680 | $34,680 | $35,580 | $46,200 | $58,310 | $41,580 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $15.31 | $17.59 | $18.11 | $22.03 | $26.29 | $20.05 | 240 | 0.07 | 2.40 |
| Annual | $31,840 | $36,580 | $37,670 | $45,830 | $54,690 | $41,710 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $18.00 | $20.45 | $29.00 | $36.21 | $36.21 | $28.54 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $37,440 | $42,530 | $60,320 | $75,310 | $75,310 | $59,370 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $19.24 | $22.28 | $27.19 | $36.59 | $50.21 | $29.99 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $40,010 | $46,350 | $56,550 | $76,110 | $104,430 | $62,380 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $19.76 | $21.26 | $26.15 | $29.60 | $46.16 | $28.34 | 130 | 0.06 | 1.81 |
| Annual | $41,100 | $44,230 | $54,400 | $61,570 | $96,020 | $58,940 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.67 | $21.75 | $25.00 | $35.55 | $47.65 | $30.05 | 390 | 0.04 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $38,830 | $45,240 | $52,000 | $73,940 | $99,120 | $62,500 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $17.54 | $24.11 | $24.40 | $25.39 | $25.39 | $24.08 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $36,490 | $50,150 | $50,740 | $52,800 | $52,800 | $50,080 | ||||
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 | $18.67 | $21.75 | $25.00 | $35.55 | $47.65 | $30.05 | 390 | 0.04 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $38,830 | $45,240 | $52,000 | $73,940 | $99,120 | $62,500 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.58 | $19.24 | $22.81 | $37.33 | $40.59 | $27.33 | 280 | 0.05 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $38,650 | $40,020 | $47,450 | $77,640 | $84,430 | $56,850 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $14.85 | $17.59 | $17.95 | $20.30 | $23.22 | $19.00 | 140 | 0.05 | 1.58 |
| Annual | $30,890 | $36,590 | $37,340 | $42,220 | $48,300 | $39,520 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $19.76 | $21.26 | $26.15 | $29.60 | $46.16 | $28.34 | 130 | 0.06 | 1.81 |
| Annual | $41,100 | $44,230 | $54,400 | $61,570 | $96,020 | $58,940 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $17.39 | $17.47 | $21.42 | $30.12 | $36.71 | $24.94 | 120 | 0.09 | 2.89 |
| Annual | $36,180 | $36,330 | $44,560 | $62,650 | $76,360 | $51,870 | ||||
Top industries employing photographic process workers and processing machine operators
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employ 46.0% of photographic process workers and processing machine operators nationally (2,210 jobs) at a median $39,510 a year ($19.00 an hour), followed by Other Personal Services (16.9%) and Electronics and Appliance Retailers (2.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 541900 | 2,210 | 46.0% | $39,510 | $19.00 |
| Other Personal Services NAICS 812900 | 810 | 16.9% | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Electronics and Appliance Retailers NAICS 449200 | 140 | 2.9% | $38,280 | $18.40 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 140 | 2.9% | $35,580 | $17.11 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing NAICS 339900 | 120 | 2.5% | $45,380 | $21.82 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (4,800). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $36,590 for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in May 2021 and $40,610 in May 2025, with employment of 5,740 and 4,800.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $36,590 | $17.59 | 5,740 |
| May 2022 | $36,280 | $17.44 | 5,380 |
| May 2023 | $35,620 | $17.12 | 5,770 |
| May 2024 | $40,100 | $19.28 | 5,550 |
| May 2025 | $40,610 | $19.52 | 4,800 |
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
29 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 | New York profile | $27.77 | $57,760 | $39,490 | $106,470 | 400 | 0.04 | 1.34 |
| 2 | Virginia profile | $22.78 | $47,380 | $31,790 | $59,310 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.89 |
| 3 | California profile | $22.75 | $47,320 | $37,900 | $84,430 | 740 | 0.04 | 1.31 |
| 4 | Florida profile | $22.52 | $46,840 | $27,080 | $52,800 | 450 | 0.05 | 1.48 |
| 5 | Wisconsin profile | $22.35 | $46,480 | $37,210 | $61,990 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.63 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $22.25 | $46,280 | $36,640 | $75,310 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.77 |
| 7 | Maryland profile | $21.92 | $45,600 | $36,130 | $76,370 | 200 | 0.07 | 2.29 |
| 8 | Iowa profile | $20.82 | $43,310 | $30,480 | $52,970 | 90 | 0.06 | 1.91 |
| 9 | New Jersey profile | $20.82 | $43,300 | $35,390 | $51,020 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.83 |
| 10 | Delaware profile | $20.30 | $42,220 | $40,140 | $42,220 | 30 | 0.06 | 2.08 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $19.20 | $39,940 | $39,940 | $46,940 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.58 |
| 12 | Utah profile | $19.00 | $39,510 | $37,390 | $43,050 | 60 | 0.04 | 1.20 |
| 13 | Michigan profile | $18.56 | $38,610 | $32,120 | $51,540 | 150 | 0.03 | 1.10 |
| 14 | Massachusetts profile | $18.46 | $38,400 | $36,880 | $85,530 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $18.24 | $37,940 | $31,200 | $74,800 | ** | ** | ** |
| 16 | Indiana profile | $18.11 | $37,670 | $31,840 | $54,690 | 240 | 0.07 | 2.40 |
| 17 | Connecticut profile | $18.01 | $37,460 | $34,010 | $47,130 | 80 | 0.05 | 1.45 |
| 18 | Kentucky profile | $18.00 | $37,430 | $27,480 | $45,920 | 120 | 0.06 | 1.98 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.95 | $37,340 | $30,890 | $48,300 | 160 | 0.03 | 0.87 |
| 20 | Arizona profile | $17.62 | $36,650 | $34,580 | $44,540 | ** | ** | ** |
| 21 | Louisiana profile | $17.55 | $36,500 | $32,730 | $47,970 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.99 |
| 22 | Texas profile | $17.28 | $35,950 | $28,890 | $66,630 | 160 | 0.01 | 0.36 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $17.11 | $35,580 | $34,680 | $58,310 | 320 | 0.07 | 2.13 |
| 24 | Georgia profile | $16.72 | $34,790 | $24,810 | $139,830 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.30 |
| 25 | Missouri profile | $16.12 | $33,540 | $30,080 | $49,270 | 100 | 0.04 | 1.14 |
| 26 | South Carolina profile | $14.43 | $30,010 | $26,780 | $34,310 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.75 |
| 27 | Alabama profile | $14.35 | $29,850 | $27,510 | $46,090 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.65 |
| 28 | Ohio profile | $14.31 | $29,770 | $28,030 | $37,830 | 190 | 0.03 | 1.11 |
| 29 | Tennessee profile | $13.97 | $29,050 | $18,720 | $53,560 | 110 | 0.03 | 1.05 |
Part of Production 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 51-9151 Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators.
**- 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 51-9151, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-9151.00, 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.