The average salary for a camera operator in South Dakota is around $44,160 per year.
Avg Salary
Camera operators earn an average yearly salary of $44,160.
Wages typically start from $28,880 and go up to $77,180.
22% below national average Updated in 2025
Camera operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$37.11 per hour
$77,180 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$35.05 per hour
$72,910 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$21.23 per hour
$44,160 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level camera operator earnings begin at:
$18.93 per hour
$39,380 per year
10th percentile
Starting level camera operator earnings begin at:
$13.88 per hour
$28,880 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Camera operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98,300 |
| New York | $93,410 |
| Georgia | $85,050 |
| Alaska | $83,620 |
| Colorado | $74,990 |
| Utah | $73,450 |
| Oregon | $69,200 |
| Arizona | $68,250 |
| Maryland | $65,870 |
| Connecticut | $65,630 |
| Ohio | $64,860 |
| Texas | $63,110 |
| North Carolina | $62,720 |
| Florida | $62,220 |
| Nevada | $62,110 |
| New Jersey | $61,990 |
| Alabama | $61,800 |
| Massachusetts | $61,320 |
| Kansas | $60,690 |
| Washington | $60,250 |
| Louisiana | $58,440 |
| Virginia | $58,440 |
| Idaho | $58,140 |
| South Carolina | $57,940 |
| Iowa | $57,220 |
| Tennessee | $57,030 |
| Indiana | $56,810 |
| Michigan | $55,290 |
| Kentucky | $53,790 |
| North Dakota | $53,650 |
| Wisconsin | $52,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,760 |
| Minnesota | $51,420 |
| Montana | $50,910 |
| Mississippi | $49,920 |
| Rhode Island | $49,790 |
| New Mexico | $49,050 |
| Arkansas | $48,680 |
| Oklahoma | $48,620 |
| Wyoming | $47,590 |
| Missouri | $47,280 |
| Vermont | $46,350 |
| Nebraska | $46,180 |
| New Hampshire | $45,880 |
| Hawaii | $44,230 |
| South Dakota | $44,160 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,650 |
| West Virginia | $43,390 |
| Maine | $37,590 |
| Guam | $22,150 |
| California | $106,900 |
| Illinois | $100,170 |
How do camera operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Camera operators earn 6% less than similar careers in South Dakota. On average, they make less than filmmakers but more than news anchors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Filmmaker salary | $60K |
| Talent director salary | $60K |
| Industrial designer salary | $60K |
| Television writer salary | $57K |
| Graphic designer salary | $48K |
| Camera operator salary | $44K |
| Jeweler salary | $45K |
| Gem worker salary | $45K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $45K |
| News anchor salary | $44K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)