The median annual wage of camera operators was $40,390 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,300, and the top 10 percent earned more than $81,270.
The median annual wage of film and video editors was $50,930 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,960, and the top 10 percent earned more than $111,860.
Work hours vary with the type of operator or editor, though most work full time. Those who work in broadcasting might have to work long hours to meet a deadline. Those who work in the motion picture industry may have long, irregular hours while filming but endure a period of unemployment after their work on the film is complete and before they are hired for their next job.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition