Prevailing Wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
The prevailing wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (SOC 27-4031) is the DOL-mandated minimum a sponsoring employer must pay for H-1B, E-3, or green card positions. DOL sets four experience-based levels, so the floor a News Videographer or Studio Camera Operator faces depends on both seniority and worksite city.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level camera operators with limited professional experience, typically performing routine assignments under close supervision. Workers at this stage apply basic technical skills and have minimal independent decision-making responsibility on set or in the studio.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film. It applies to qualified professionals with moderate experience who work independently on standard productions, applying established techniques without requiring constant supervisory oversight.
Level 3 covers experienced camera operators who handle complex or specialized production assignments, exercise independent judgment, and may guide less experienced crew members. They typically bring a track record across multiple production environments or technical specializations.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior camera operators in lead or supervisory roles, directing technical decisions across productions, mentoring crew, and setting standards. These professionals often hold a Master Control Operator or senior production technician title.
Prevailing Wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
Distinguish studio versus field filing levels
Employers filing for a Studio Camera Operator in a controlled broadcast environment often file at L2, while News Videographers working independently in unpredictable field conditions may justify L3 based on the judgment and adaptability those assignments require.
Check Los Angeles and New York worksite wages separately
Camera operator prevailing wages in Los Angeles and New York significantly exceed national medians due to dense entertainment and broadcast employer markets. An offer benchmarked to national figures can fall below the DOL floor once the LCA worksite is set to those metros.
Watch for title aliasing under a different SOC
Roles titled Production Technician or Master Control Operator sometimes get filed under broadcast technician SOC codes rather than SOC 27-4031. A misclassified SOC sets a different wage floor, which can affect compliance regardless of the salary offered.
Find employers sponsoring camera operator roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters sponsored camera operator listings by visa type and location, and shows which employers have historical H-1B or E-3 sponsorship counts for this occupation, helping you prioritize outreach to companies that have actually filed before.
Jobs for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 27-4031.00 alongside Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Camera Operator Prevailing Wage
Camera Operator Prevailing Wage
Camera Operator positions fall under SOC 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Cameraman Prevailing Wage
Cameraman Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cameraman for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Master Control Operator (MCO) Prevailing Wage
Master Control Operator (MCO) Prevailing Wage
Master Control Operator (MCO) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
News Videographer Prevailing Wage
News Videographer Prevailing Wage
News Videographer positions fall under SOC 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Production Technician Prevailing Wage
Production Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Production Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Studio Camera Operator Prevailing Wage
Studio Camera Operator Prevailing Wage
Studio Camera Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Television News Photographer Prevailing Wage
Television News Photographer Prevailing Wage
Television News Photographer positions fall under SOC 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Videographer Prevailing Wage
Videographer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Videographer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for SOC 27-4031 at four experience levels. OFLC publishes these figures and updates them periodically. The wage reflects what employers in the same geographic area pay workers in comparable camera operator positions, not a national average.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is a qualified professional working independently; Level 3 is an experienced operator handling complex assignments; Level 4 is a senior or lead role. Your level is determined by the duties, supervision, and judgment described in the Labor Condition Application, not your job title alone. Employers must select the level that accurately reflects the actual position.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a national figure. The LCA must list the actual worksite, and dense entertainment and broadcast markets like Los Angeles or New York drive significantly higher survey medians than smaller metros. Filming in a low-wage metro and listing that address on the LCA sets a lower floor.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application with a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or E-3 petition without a certified LCA. If the offered salary falls short, the employer must either raise it to meet the floor or the sponsorship cannot proceed. There is no waiver for this requirement.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for camera operator jobs in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 27-4031 wages by metropolitan area and experience level. Select the correct worksite metro and the wage level that matches the position's duties. You can also review the O*NET profile for SOC 27-4031 to understand how DOL defines each level. Migrate Mate surfaces sponsored camera operator listings filtered by location and visa type, making it easier to identify which employers are actively sponsoring the role in your target market.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film right now.
Search Jobs for this role