Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary in California
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in California earn a median of $47,320 a year ($22.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,430 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $40,610. California ranks 3rd of 29 states for photographic process workers and processing machine operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.04 photographic process workers and processing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $55,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| 25th percentile | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| Median | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| 75th percentile | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,430 | $40.59 |
| Average (mean) | $55,580 | $26.72 |
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 | $3,943.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,971.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,820 |
| Weekly | $910 |
| Hourly | $22.75 |
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 in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,550 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,400 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,450 | 280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,810 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,240 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for photographic process workers and processing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $57,760 |
| Virginia | $47,380 |
| California | $47,320 |
| Florida | $46,840 |
| Wisconsin | $46,480 |
| Washington | $46,280 |
| Maryland | $45,600 |
| Iowa | $43,310 |
| New Jersey | $43,300 |
| Delaware | $42,220 |
See Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $47,410 | $22.80 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $49,190 | $23.65 |
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 California?
The median salary for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in California is $47,320 a year, or $22.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid photographic process workers and processing machine operators make in California?
The top 10% of photographic process workers and processing machine operators in California earn at least $84,430 a year. The top 25% earn $67,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,900 a year, and a quarter of photographic process workers and processing machine operators earn $40,020 or less.
How many photographic process workers and processing machine operators work in California?
About 740 photographic process workers and processing machine operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.