Motion Picture Projectionists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for motion picture projectionistss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Illinois$78,680
- California$78,050
- New York$76,910
- Washington$44,580
- Michigan$40,190
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Iowa$27,080
- Tennessee$27,840
- Pennsylvania$29,330
- Missouri$31,080
- Texas$31,480
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $78,680 | $78,990 | $38 | +52.8% | — |
| 2 | California | $78,050 | $74,840 | $38 | +51.6% | 190 |
| 3 | New York | $76,910 | $82,260 | $37 | +49.4% | 270 |
| 4 | Washington | $44,580 | $39,070 | $21 | -13.4% | 60 |
| 5 | Michigan | $40,190 | $37,590 | $19 | -21.9% | — |
| 6 | Arizona | $38,320 | $32,890 | $18 | -25.6% | — |
| 7 | Ohio | $37,130 | $36,870 | $18 | -27.9% | 50 |
| 8 | Texas | $31,480 | $31,160 | $15 | -38.9% | 40 |
| 9 | Missouri | $31,080 | $29,140 | $15 | -39.6% | — |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $29,330 | $29,850 | $14 | -43% | 40 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $27,840 | $22,750 | $13 | -45.9% | 90 |
| 12 | Iowa | $27,080 | $23,210 | $13 | -47.4% | 100 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 3 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $92,180 | $95,820 | 100 |
| 2 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $85,460 | $80,090 | — |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,270 | $83,770 | 230 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing motion picture projectionistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $88,300 | $76,240 | 100 |
| 2 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $77,200 | $62,840 | 40 |
| 3 | Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $70,190 | $69,640 | 80 |
| 4 | Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $70,190 | $69,640 | 80 |
| 5 | Sector 71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $70,190 | $68,690 | 250 |
| 6 | Educational Services | $67,270 | $58,110 | 30 |
| 7 | Sector 61 - Educational Services | $67,270 | $58,110 | 30 |
| 8 | Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $61,870 | $68,220 | 170 |
| 9 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $54,860 | $60,210 | 30 |
| 10 | Performing Arts Companies | $46,790 | $55,720 | 60 |
| 11 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $46,790 | $55,230 | 60 |
| 12 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $38,270 | $51,480 | 1,480 |
Workforce Deep-Dive
Distribution and demographics from Census ACS (2017, self-reported). Wage figures here are ACS averages and run lower than the authoritative BLS wages above; use them for shape, not exact pay.
Annual wage distribution
Pay by age band
Education level
Full-time vs part-time
Race / ethnicity
Top fields of study
Top Skills
Most important skills for this role (O*NET importance, 1–5 scale).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do motion picture projectionists make in the U.S.?
The median motion picture projectionists salary in the United States is $38,270 per year (mean $51,480), and about 80% earn between $23,390 and $88,310.
How much do motion picture projectionists make per hour?
Roughly $25 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $51,480 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays motion picture projectionists the most?
Illinois has the highest average pay for motion picture projectionists at $78,680 per year (median $78,990).
What is the job outlook for motion picture projectionists?
Employment is projected to change -3.7% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 500 openings per year.