51
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators is a notable career in the 51 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 51-9151 |
| title | Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators |
| onet code | 51-9151.00 |
| description | 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. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 51 |
| tot emp | 5,550 |
| a mean | 46,050 |
| a median | 40,100 |
| a pct10 | 30,840 |
| a pct25 | 34,460 |
| a pct75 | 51,590 |
| a pct90 | 69,290 |
| h mean | 22 |
| h median | 19 |
The day-to-day work of a photographic process workers and processing machine operators typically centers on select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, and Quality Control Analysis. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.25 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working photographic process workers and processing machine operators, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (84.1%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 5% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in New York at $72,160 and lowest in South Carolina at $28,860 — a 2.5× spread. The top five states (New York, Washington, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio) average $55,274. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $72,160 | $75,980 | $37,910 | $128,180 | 340 |
| Washington | $51,730 | $57,610 | $37,260 | $87,110 | 70 |
| Michigan | $51,590 | $50,620 | $44,160 | $51,590 | 720 |
| Maryland | $50,770 | $59,700 | $33,960 | $94,500 | 120 |
| Ohio | $50,120 | $50,610 | $32,800 | $69,020 | 30 |
| California | $45,850 | $51,050 | $33,850 | $80,040 | 940 |
| Wisconsin | $44,750 | $46,180 | $36,210 | $59,990 | 90 |
| New Jersey | $41,250 | $49,320 | $35,360 | $73,430 | 90 |
| Utah | $40,250 | $39,750 | $37,080 | $43,850 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $38,900 | $40,370 | $32,210 | $49,600 | 60 |
| Oregon | $38,650 | $40,900 | $33,690 | $46,020 | 60 |
| Texas | $37,980 | $41,010 | $29,370 | $57,840 | 190 |
| Missouri | $37,370 | $44,660 | $30,570 | $71,450 | — |
| Massachusetts | $37,230 | $37,890 | $35,490 | $41,480 | — |
| Virginia | $36,430 | $39,890 | $30,890 | $57,390 | 130 |
| Indiana | $36,290 | $39,550 | $29,510 | $49,260 | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,130 | $37,580 | $29,890 | $47,730 | 350 |
| Florida | $35,960 | $41,460 | $31,580 | $60,130 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $35,960 | $49,810 | $33,690 | $82,420 | 50 |
| Arizona | $35,520 | $37,280 | $33,850 | $44,430 | — |
| North Carolina | $33,590 | $38,120 | $30,930 | $50,300 | 460 |
| Iowa | $32,100 | $38,300 | $31,980 | $47,900 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $31,370 | $32,750 | $24,240 | $43,490 | 100 |
| Georgia | $29,830 | $31,180 | $24,050 | $43,540 | 100 |
| Illinois | $29,120 | $37,350 | $29,120 | $66,380 | — |
| Kansas | $29,120 | $33,320 | $20,210 | $46,850 | 30 |
| Alabama | $28,910 | $32,220 | $26,580 | $44,680 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $28,860 | $27,920 | $19,450 | $36,890 | — |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for photographic process workers and processing machine operators. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Air Brush Artist or Airbrush Artist frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators compares to others in the 51 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.