Photographic Process Worker and Processing Machine Operator Salary
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators earn a median $40,610 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$40,610
$19.52 per hour
Range
$30,090 – $68,800
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
4,800
across the U.S.
Photographic Process Worker and Processing Machine Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$34,810
per year · effective tax rate 14.3%
$2,901Monthly
$1,450Twice a month
$1,339Every 2 weeks
$16.74Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,693
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,518
- Medicare (1.45%)$589
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$34,810
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,090 | $14.47 | $26,357 |
| 25th percentile | $35,170 | $16.91 | $30,439 |
| Median (50th) | $40,610 | $19.52 | $34,810 |
| 75th percentile | $50,150 | $24.11 | $42,476 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,800 | $33.08 | $57,231 |
Photographic Process Worker and Processing Machine Operator salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $57,760 | $46,068 | $39,490 – $106,470 | 400 |
| Virginia | $47,380 | $38,340 | $31,790 – $59,310 | 110 |
| California | $47,320 | $38,698 | $37,900 – $84,430 | 740 |
| Florida | $46,840 | $39,816 | $27,080 – $52,800 | 450 |
| Wisconsin | $46,480 | $38,263 | $37,210 – $61,990 | 60 |
| Washington | $46,280 | $39,366 | $36,640 – $75,310 | 80 |
| Maryland | $45,600 | $37,017 | $36,130 – $76,370 | 200 |
| Iowa | $43,310 | $35,986 | $30,480 – $52,970 | 90 |
| New Jersey | $43,300 | $36,127 | $35,390 – $51,020 | 110 |
| Delaware | $42,220 | $34,437 | $40,140 – $42,220 | 30 |
| Oregon | $39,940 | $31,607 | $39,940 – $46,940 | 40 |
| Utah | $39,510 | $33,114 | $37,390 – $43,050 | 60 |
| Michigan | $38,610 | $31,813 | $32,120 – $51,540 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $38,400 | $31,334 | $36,880 – $85,530 | — |
| Illinois | $37,940 | $30,932 | $31,200 – $74,800 | — |
| Indiana | $37,670 | $31,366 | $31,840 – $54,690 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $37,460 | $31,518 | $34,010 – $47,130 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $37,430 | $31,063 | $27,480 – $45,920 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,340 | $31,036 | $30,890 – $48,300 | 160 |
| Arizona | $36,650 | $30,921 | $34,580 – $44,540 | — |
| Louisiana | $36,500 | $30,799 | $32,730 – $47,970 | 60 |
| Texas | $35,950 | $31,066 | $28,890 – $66,630 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $35,580 | $29,858 | $34,680 – $58,310 | 320 |
| Georgia | $34,790 | $28,951 | $24,810 – $139,830 | 50 |
| Missouri | $33,540 | $28,490 | $30,080 – $49,270 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $30,010 | $25,650 | $26,780 – $34,310 | 50 |
| Alabama | $29,850 | $24,937 | $27,510 – $46,090 | 40 |
| Ohio | $29,770 | $26,064 | $28,030 – $37,830 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $29,050 | $25,522 | $18,720 – $53,560 | 110 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographic process worker and processing machine operator make?
The national median salary for photographic process workers and processing machine operators is $40,610 a year ($19.52 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,090 and the top 10% earn over $68,800. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays photographic process workers and processing machine operators the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $57,760.
How many photographic process workers and processing machine operators are there in the U.S.?
About 4,800 people work as photographic process workers and processing machine operators nationwide.