Set up and operate motion picture projection and related sound reproduction equipment.
National median · BLS
$38,270
▲ +0.24%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$51,480
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
1,480
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Motion Picture Projectionists
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$23,390
25th
$30,040
Median (50th)
$38,270
75th
$77,730
90th — top pay
$88,310
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Motion Picture Projectionists
BLS projects employment of motion picture projectionists to decline 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 300 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
1,500 → 1,400
-100 jobs
Projected change
-6.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
300
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What motion picture projectionists do
Monitor operations to ensure that standards for sound and image projection quality are met.
Start projectors and open shutters to project images onto screens.
Open and close facilities according to rules and schedules.
Operate equipment to show films in a number of theaters simultaneously.
Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as rotating or replacing xenon bulbs, cleaning projectors and lenses, lubricating machinery, and keeping electrical contacts clean and tight.
Set up and adjust picture projectors and screens to achieve proper size, illumination, and focus of images, and proper volume and tone of sound.
Inspect projection equipment prior to operation to ensure proper working order.
Perform minor repairs, such as replacing worn sprockets, or notify maintenance personnel of the need for major repairs.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Motion Picture Projectionists, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $38,270.
