Motion Picture Projectionists Salary
The median motion picture projectionists salary in the United States is $38,270 per year ($18.40/hour). Salaries range from $23,390 at the entry level to $88,310+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 1,480 motion picture projectionists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 3.7% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$38,270
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.40
per hour
Employment
1,480
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$23,390
25th percentile
$30,040
Median
$38,270
75th percentile
$77,730
90th percentile
$88,310
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-3.7%
Decline
Annual Openings
500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
No formal educational credential
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Motion Picture Projectionists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$23K$82K■ No data
Top Paying States
New York
$82K
+115%
Illinois
$79K
+106%
California
$75K
+96%
Washington
$39K
+2%
Michigan
$38K
-2%
Ohio
$37K
-4%
Arizona
$33K
-14%
Texas
$31K
-19%
Pennsylvania
$30K
-22%
Missouri
$29K
-24%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $82,260 | +114.9% |
| Illinois | $78,990 | +106.4% |
| California | $74,840 | +95.6% |
| Washington | $39,070 | +2.1% |
| Michigan | $37,590 | -1.8% |
| Ohio | $36,870 | -3.7% |
| Arizona | $32,890 | -14.1% |
| Texas | $31,160 | -18.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $29,850 | -22.0% |
| Missouri | $29,140 | -23.9% |
Showing 1–10 of 12
Motion Picture Projectionists Salary by Metro Area
Limited metro data available — BLS only publishes data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $92,180 | +140.9% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $85,460 | +123.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,270 | +115.0% |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A motion picture projectionists earning $38,270/year would need 1558 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1672 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how motion picture projectionists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Motion Picture Projectionists salary trend (2011–2024) →