Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators: pay and what the work involves

Occupation 3417 · Associate professional occupations

Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators

Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators operate and assist with still, cine and television cameras, operate other equipment and software to record, manipulate and project sound and vision for entertainment, cultural, commercial and industrial purposes, including digital and interactive media; and operate drones to provide aerial video and photographs.

How people enter it

There are no set academic requirements although entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades and are able to demonstrate proof of pre- entry work experience. A variety of diplomas, degrees and postgraduate qualifications are available. Vocational qualifications in Photography are available at levels 1,2 and 3.

What the work involves

selects subject and conceives composition of picture or discusses composition with colleagues
arranges subject, lighting, camera equipment and any microphones
inserts lenses and adjusts aperture and speed settings as necessary
operates scanning equipment to transfer image to computer and manipulates image to achieve the desired effect
photographs subject or follows action by moving camera
takes, records and manipulates digital images and digital video footage
controls transmission, broadcasting and satellite systems for television and radio programmes, identifies and solves related technical problems
checks operation and positioning of projectors, vision and sound recording equipment, and mixing and dubbing equipment
operates equipment to record, edit and play back films and television programmes
manages health and safety issues
operates sound mixing and dubbing equipment to obtain desired mix, level and balance of sound
maintains, repairs, programs and operates unmanned aircraft to provide aerial photographs and video

Also called

Audio visual technician · Cameraman · Commercial drone pilot · Digital imaging technician · Lighting designer · Photographer · Projectionist · Sound engineer · Theatre technician (entertainment)

What it pays

Measure	Hours	Basis	Period	Value	Source
3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	None	2026-03	67,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	None	2026-03	69,700.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	None	2026-03	79,200.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	None	2026-03	2,100.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	None	2026-03	9,500.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	None	2026-03	81,300.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	None	2026-03	2,100.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Region	Measure	Hours	Value	Period
East	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	9,900.00	2026-03
East Midlands	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	3,300.00	2026-03
London	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	17,000.00	2026-03
North East	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	2,500.00	2026-03
North West	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	4,600.00	2026-03
Northern Ireland	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	2,100.00	2026-03
Scotland	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	9,500.00	2026-03
South East	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	10,600.00	2026-03
South West	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	9,900.00	2026-03
Wales	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	2,100.00	2026-03
West Midlands	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	4,400.00	2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber	3417 : Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators	None	5,300.00	2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators vary by region?

ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.

Where do these pay figures come from?

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.

Classified alongside this

Actors, entertainers and presenters · Artists · Arts officers, producers and directors · Authors, writers and translators · Dancers and choreographers · Musicians