What Does a Cinematographer Do?
Cinematographers, often credited as directors of photography, give a film, series or commercial its look: the cameras and lenses, the lighting and the framing of each shot, all agreed with the director. They lead the camera and lighting crews on sets, in studios and on location, then check each day's footage before the next day's shoot.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Camera Operator, Cameraman, Master Control Operator (MCO), News Videographer, Production Technician, Studio Camera Operator, Television News Photographer, Videographer.
Cinematographer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a cinematographer include:
- Break down the script with the director and agree on a visual approach for each scene.
- Choose cameras, lenses and recording formats to suit the story, budget and schedule.
- Design lighting plans and direct the gaffer and electric crew as they rig each setup.
- Scout locations for light, power and space; flag problems to the producer before the shoot.
- Frame and compose shots, deciding camera height, movement and lens for every setup.
- Lead the camera department, including operators, focus pullers, loaders and the digital imaging technician.
- Shoot camera tests to check skin tones, costumes and set colors under planned lighting.
- Review dailies each evening and adjust exposure, contrast or coverage for the following day.
- Supervise the color grade in post-production so the finished look matches what was shot.
- Keep the shooting day on pace by planning setups that reuse lighting and camera positions.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a cinematographer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Command of cinema cameras such as ARRI, RED or Sony Venice
- Lighting design for interiors, exteriors and night work
- Lens choice and composition
- Color grading sessions in DaVinci Resolve
- Leading camera and electric crews
- A reel that shows a consistent eye
- Stamina for long days on your feet
- Clear communication with directors and producers
Education and Training
Most cinematographers hold a bachelor's degree in film or cinematography, but some start out by working as camera assistants and loaders on set. Hiring leans heavily on a reel. With experience, you could progress from second assistant camera to camera operator and then director of photography on larger productions.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $50,920 - $106,660 per year, with a median of $74,990.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film.
BLS projects employment of camera operators for television, video and film, the group that includes cinematographers, to grow about 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 2,500 openings a year. Finding steady work on corporate and commercial shoots is often less difficult than landing feature films because far more of those projects get made. Freelance work is common.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Camera operators, television, video, and film.
Cinematographer Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $38,520 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $50,920 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $74,990 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $106,660 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $135,180 |
Highest-Paying States for Cinematographers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are California ($106,900), Illinois ($100,170), District of Columbia ($98,300), New York ($93,410), Georgia ($85,050). Pay is lowest in South Dakota ($44,160), West Virginia ($43,390), Maine ($37,590).
Median pay in all 46 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,800 |
| Alaska | $83,620 |
| Arizona | $68,250 |
| Arkansas | $48,680 |
| California | $106,900 |
| Colorado | $74,990 |
| Connecticut | $65,630 |
| District of Columbia | $98,300 |
| Florida | $62,220 |
| Georgia | $85,050 |
| Hawaii | $44,230 |
| Idaho | $58,140 |
| Illinois | $100,170 |
| Indiana | $56,810 |
| Iowa | $57,220 |
| Kansas | $60,690 |
| Kentucky | $53,790 |
| Louisiana | $58,440 |
| Maine | $37,590 |
| Maryland | $65,870 |
| Massachusetts | $61,320 |
| Michigan | $55,290 |
| Minnesota | $51,420 |
| Mississippi | $49,920 |
| Montana | $50,910 |
| Nebraska | $46,180 |
| Nevada | $62,110 |
| New Hampshire | $45,880 |
| New Mexico | $49,050 |
| New York | $93,410 |
| North Carolina | $62,720 |
| North Dakota | $53,650 |
| Ohio | $64,860 |
| Oklahoma | $48,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,760 |
| Rhode Island | $49,790 |
| South Carolina | $57,940 |
| South Dakota | $44,160 |
| Tennessee | $57,030 |
| Texas | $63,110 |
| Utah | $73,450 |
| Vermont | $46,350 |
| Virginia | $58,440 |
| Washington | $60,250 |
| West Virginia | $43,390 |
| Wisconsin | $52,810 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as camera operators, television, video, and film about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 98% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 84% use email every day
- 80% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 68% work against deadlines every day
- 64% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 64% are on the phone every day
- 36% spend more than half the workday sitting
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Associate's degree | 61% |
| High school diploma or GED | 18% |
| Some college | 15% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7% |
Tools and Software Cinematographers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy creative work and self-expression as well as hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Critical Thinking.
Knowledge areas used most: English Language, Computers and Electronics, Communications and Media, Telecommunications, Engineering and Technology.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 27-4031.00 (Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.