Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Salary
The median photographic process workers and processing machine operators salary in the United States is $40,610 per year ($19.52/hour). Salaries range from $30,090 at the entry level to $68,800+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 4,800 photographic process workers and processing machine operators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 2.6% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$40,610
per year
Hourly Rate
$19.52
per hour
Employment
4,800
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$30,090
25th percentile
$35,170
Median
$40,610
75th percentile
$50,150
90th percentile
$68,800
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-2.6%
Decline
Annual Openings
1,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$29K$58K■ No data
Top Paying States
New York
$58K
+42%
Virginia
$47K
+17%
California
$47K
+17%
Florida
$47K
+15%
Wisconsin
$46K
+14%
Washington
$46K
+14%
Maryland
$46K
+12%
Iowa
$43K
+7%
New Jersey
$43K
+7%
Delaware
$42K
+4%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $57,760 | +42.2% |
| Virginia | $47,380 | +16.7% |
| California | $47,320 | +16.5% |
| Florida | $46,840 | +15.3% |
| Wisconsin | $46,480 | +14.5% |
| Washington | $46,280 | +14.0% |
| Maryland | $45,600 | +12.3% |
| Iowa | $43,310 | +6.6% |
| New Jersey | $43,300 | +6.6% |
| Delaware | $42,220 | +4.0% |
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Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,320 | +48.5% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,550 | +39.3% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,400 | +34.0% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $52,000 | +28.0% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $50,740 | +24.9% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,450 | +16.8% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,810 | +15.3% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $44,560 | +9.7% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $43,490 | +7.1% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,240 | +6.5% |
Showing 1–10 of 25
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 photographic process workers and processing machine operators earning $40,610/year would need 1468 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1576 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how photographic process workers and processing machine operators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary trend (2011–2024) →