Average Salary

• For its national employment survey conducted in 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics classified television cameramen along with their counterparts working within motion pictures and video. It reported that the average annual salary across the profession was $49,590, equivalent to $4,133 a month and $23.84 an hour. Practitioners amongst the top 10 percent of earners were likely to receive a wage in excess of $82,600, while those in the bottom 10 percent earned an average of less than $20,910.
  
  

Salary by Industry

• The vast majority of TV cameramen work for television broadcasting companies. The BLS listed the average annual salary for practitioners in this sector as $44,130. Other employment opportunities exist within cable and other subscription programming, other professional, scientific and technical services -- freelancing and consulting -- and federal government agencies. The average wages within these sectors of the industry were $59,090, $46,280 and $63,940, respectively.
  
  

Salary by Geography

• Wage comparison website SalaryExpert.com analyzed salaries for TV cameramen specifically in some major U.S. cities. It found a wide variety of averages, with Boston and Phoenix topping the table at $75,162 and $57,333, respectively. In contrast, Miami was listed at $31,941 and Houston at $30,818. The BLS survey of cameramen generally found that Oregon and New Mexico were the most lucrative states, averaging $73,890 and $65,511, respectively. South Dakota was listed at just $26,910.
  
  

Prospects

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects to see a growth in employment opportunities for cameramen across all moving image industries, including television, of around 11 percent through 2018. This is in line with projections for the country as a whole, estimated at between 7 and 13 percent over the same period. The BLS cautions that increased automation will temper job growth for television cameramen and candidates can expect keen competition for vacancies. Individuals with a broad skill-set and adaptability should be best placed to secure the highest salary packages.