Photographic Equipment Technicians
Overview
Introduction
Photographic equipment technicians, sometimes called camera technicians, maintain, test, disassemble, and repair cameras and other equipment used to take still and motion pictures. They are responsible for keeping the equipment in working order.
Photographic equipment technicians use a variety of hand tools (such as screwdrivers, pliers, and wire cutters) for maintenance and repair of the complex cameras used by motion picture and still photographers.
As hobbyists' cameras and equipment become more convenient ...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The median salary for photographic equipment technicians was $38,880 in May 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $23,590, while the highest paid 10 percent earned $60,460 or more a year. Earnings for self-employed technicians vary widely. In the right location, independent technicians can build up businesses that give them earnings higher ...
Work Environment
Photographic equipment technicians work in clean, well-lit shop conditions. They are usually seated at a bench for much of the time, working with hand tools. Eyestrain and stiffness from long hours of sitting are common physical complaints. Tedium can be a problem for some technicians.
Photographic equipment technicians work alone most of the time, concentrating on their work. Patience a...
Outlook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts that little or no change in employment will occur for photographic equipment repairers through 2028. In general, the low price of many of today's point-and-shoot cameras and the high cost of labor make it uneconomical to do extensive service on these cameras. However, as digital cameras have become more popular, technicians able to repair the ...
