Who Earns What

How much does a camera repairer make?

US Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
$52,720

a year · about $25 an hour

A typical camera repairer in the United States makes $52,720 a year, about $25 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What do they do?

They inspect a camera, test its focus or shutter, and use small tools to open it and find the fault. Then they replace or adjust parts, clean and lubricate gears, and test it again.

Did you know? When old camera parts can’t be bought, some repairers salvage them from junked cameras—or make replacements with a lathe and grinding wheel.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$52,720
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $34,320 and $83,940
56 of 100
more than half

How do you become one?

In the US, finish high school, then learn through vocational training or beside an experienced repairer; O*NET says training usually takes one or two years. Manufacturer seminars teach specific models, and no usual starting age is set.

School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized

Why does pay differ?

In the United States, experienced repairers and those with in-demand skills or training for complex equipment may earn more. Pay also differs by employer or industry and by location; the hours worked can matter too.

Where does it pay most?

Highest in Ohio ($85,070), lowest in Texas ($33,940).

See every state
Whole US$52,720
Ohio$85,070
Virginia$65,170
New Jersey$60,290
California$59,770
Arizona$59,080
Florida$41,290
North Carolina$41,140
Texas$33,940

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

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Who earns more?
Data table and sources
Camera repairer pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$34,320$52,720$83,940about 2,000
States where camera repairers earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Ohio$85,070about 80
Virginia$65,170—
New Jersey$60,290about 40
California$59,770—
Arizona$59,080—

Official definition: Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment.

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

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Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY