Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary by state
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$47,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$4,000
8.2% of base
Total target cash
$51,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,50050th$4,00075th$6,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
What Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operatorss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisActive ListeningSpeakingService OrientationReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators pay by experience level
Entry level$31,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$36,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$42,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$52,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$71,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-2.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,500
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
2,330 workers
$46,500
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
2,210 workers
$46,000
Personal and Laundry Services
810 workers
$40,500
Other Personal Services
810 workers
$40,500
Administrative and Support Services
180 workers
$53,000
Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers
140 workers
$39,000
Electronics and Appliance Retailers
140 workers
$39,000
Employment Services
140 workers
$55,000
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
130 workers
$49,500
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
120 workers
$49,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators pays 15% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators make?
The average base salary for a Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in the United States is $47,500 per year, or about $22.84 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $36,500 and $52,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
