Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary in the U.S.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $40,610 a year ($19.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,800 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $46,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,090 | $14.47 |
| 25th percentile | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Median | $40,610 | $19.52 |
| 75th percentile | $50,150 | $24.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,800 | $33.08 |
| Average (mean) | $46,050 | $22.14 |
Half of photographic process workers and processing machine operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,384.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,692.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,561.92 |
| Weekly | $780.96 |
| Hourly | $19.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $57,760 | 400 |
| Virginia | $47,380 | 110 |
| California | $47,320 | 740 |
| Florida | $46,840 | 450 |
| Wisconsin | $46,480 | 60 |
| Washington | $46,280 | 80 |
| Maryland | $45,600 | 200 |
| Iowa | $43,310 | 90 |
| New Jersey | $43,300 | 110 |
| Delaware | $42,220 | 30 |
| Oregon | $39,940 | 40 |
| Utah | $39,510 | 60 |
| Michigan | $38,610 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $38,400 | n/a |
| Illinois | $37,940 | n/a |
| Indiana | $37,670 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $37,460 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $37,430 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,340 | 160 |
| Arizona | $36,650 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $36,500 | 60 |
| Texas | $35,950 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $35,580 | 320 |
| Georgia | $34,790 | 50 |
| Missouri | $33,540 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $30,010 | 50 |
| Alabama | $29,850 | 40 |
| Ohio | $29,770 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $29,050 | 110 |
Best-paying metro areas for photographic process workers and processing machine operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,320 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,550 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,400 | 130 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $52,000 | 390 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $50,740 | n/a |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,450 | 280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,810 | 40 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $44,560 | 120 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $43,490 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,240 | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $43,100 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $41,280 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $39,070 | 40 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $38,860 | n/a |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $38,650 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most photographic process workers and processing machine operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 390 | $52,000 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 280 | $47,450 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 140 | $37,340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 130 | $54,400 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 120 | $44,560 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 90 | $37,720 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 80 | $41,280 |
| Cleveland, OH | 70 | $29,540 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 70 | $34,900 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 60 | $43,100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 60 | $38,650 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 60 | $43,240 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 50 | $60,320 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 40 | $34,790 |
| Columbus, OH | 40 | $30,600 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,170 | $22.20 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9151. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographic process workers and processing machine operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in the U.S. is $40,610 a year, or $19.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid photographic process workers and processing machine operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of photographic process workers and processing machine operators in the U.S. earn at least $68,800 a year. The top 25% earn $50,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,090 a year, and a quarter of photographic process workers and processing machine operators earn $35,170 or less.
How many photographic process workers and processing machine operators work in the U.S.?
About 4,800 photographic process workers and processing machine operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.