How much does a photo lab technician make?
Answer: A typical photo lab technician in the United States makes $40,610 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 5,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Photo lab technician pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,090 | $40,610 | $68,800 | about 5,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $47,320 | about 740 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, useful skills or credentials, the employer, location, and specialized tasks can all affect pay. Overtime or premium shifts may add pay; fame usually matters less in this behind-the-scenes job.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a photo lab technician do?
Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.
What's a typical day like?
A workday can include sorting orders, loading film or paper into machines, mixing developer, and adjusting printers. The tech scans negatives, checks digital images, makes prints, and packs finished orders.
How to get this job
Finish high school or earn a GED, then apply for an entry-level photo lab job and learn the equipment and image processing on the job. You can also train through a U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship, such as Film Lab Technician.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Photo lab technicians may mix developing chemicals and also scan film negatives to turn them into digital images.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-9151.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/51-9151.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes519151.htm
- www.bls.gov/occupation-finder.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/bls/wages.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY