Skilled Trades
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
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.
Median salary (BLS)
$40,610
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$30k – $69k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Plan a path to Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Entry / Junior
$30,090
~2 yrs to advance
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Established
$40,610
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Senior
$54,705
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.