# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/photographic-process-workers-and-processing-machine-operators
- SOC code: 51-9151.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $40,610 (10th percentile $30,090, 90th percentile $68,800)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.6%
- Openings a year: 600
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 75 |
| Investigative (I) | 19 |
| Artistic (A) | 32 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 2 |
| Conventional (C) | 70 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 85/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 80/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 74/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 73/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 72/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 69/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 67/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 67/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 65/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operation and Control

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Computers and Electronics, Production and Processing, English Language, Mechanical, Chemistry, Sales and Marketing, Education and Training, Mathematics, Law and Government

## Also called

Air Brush Artist, Airbrush Artist, Art Tracer, Automatic Developer, Automatic Mounter, Automatic Print Developer, Black and White Printer Operator, Color Laboratory Technician, Color Printer Operator, Computer-Controlled Color Photograph Printer Operator

## Related careers

- [Prepress Technicians and Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/prepress-technicians-and-workers): $48,690 median pay
- [Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/camera-and-photographic-equipment-repairers): $52,720 median pay
- [Printing Press Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/printing-press-operators): $45,780 median pay
- [Etchers and Engravers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/etchers-and-engravers): $43,310 median pay
- [Office Machine Operators, Except Computer](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/office-machine-operators-except-computer): $40,960 median pay
- [Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/painting-coating-and-decorating-workers): $41,600 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.