Camera Operators

Employment for camera operators is expected to grow by 7 percent, faster than the average for all careers, through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. If the economy continues to grow, the use of visual images may increase more in areas such as communication, education, entertainment, marketing, and research and development. More businesses may make use of video training films and public relations projects that use film. Camera operators would also be needed to help create made-for-the-Internet broadcasts. The entertainment industries are also expanding. Relatively new digital delivery technologies such as video streaming that transmit content to mobile and desktop devices may help create new employment opportunities for camera operators working in the entertainment industries and for companies producing online educational video productions. However, competition for positions is fierce. Employment will not be as strong in television broadcasting as automation reduces the number of camera operators needed to create television shows, newscasts, and other productions. Camera operators work in what is considered a desirable and exciting field, and they must work hard and be aggressive to get good jobs, especially in Los Angeles and New York.

In addition, American film and television production companies are increasingly using Canadian locales, particularly Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario, to shoot film and television entertainment productions, reducing opportunities for American film and television camera operators in California and New York, but increasing employment opportunities for their Canadian colleagues. As long as provincial governments in Canada continue to offer generous tax incentives to American film and production companies and comparative unionized labor costs remain favorable in Canada, there will likely to continue to be significant opportunities for Canadian camera operators seeking to be employed by film and television production companies. In response to this development, some American film and television camera operators have sought and obtained dual American-Canadian citizenship to overcome Canadian-national preferential hiring laws because of the torrent of films and television productions presently being shot in Canada, a trend likely to continue for the foreseeable future.