EN

Occupation · SOC 51-9151

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

There are 4,800 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $40,610 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

ProductionTypical education: High school diploma or equivalent
4,800
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$40,610
Median pay a year
Middle half: $35,170–$50,150
600
Annual openings
10-year change: −5.6%
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 18 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $52,000 · LCA filings 0390$52,0000
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $47,450 · LCA filings 0280$47,4500
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $37,340 · LCA filings 0140$37,3400
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $54,400 · LCA filings 0130$54,4000
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDMedian pay $44,560 · LCA filings 0120$44,5600
Indianapolis–Carmel–Greenwood, INMedian pay $37,720 · LCA filings 090$37,7200
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $41,280 · LCA filings 080$41,2800
Cleveland, OHMedian pay $29,540 · LCA filings 070$29,5400
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $34,900 · LCA filings 070$34,9000
Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SCMedian pay $43,100 · LCA filings 060$43,1000

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$60,320500
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 130 · LCA filings 0$54,4001300
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployment 390 · LCA filings 0$52,0003900
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployment 280 · LCA filings 0$47,4502800
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$46,810400

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $52,062 · Level III $62,400 · Level IV $72,738$41,725$52,062$62,400$72,738
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $48,027 · Level III $56,784 · Level IV $65,520$39,291$48,027$56,784$65,520
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $36,733 · Level III $39,478 · Level IV $42,245$33,966$36,733$39,478$42,245
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $50,648 · Level III $58,864 · Level IV $67,059$42,453$50,648$58,864$67,059
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDLevel II $43,930 · Level III $51,792 · Level IV $59,654$36,067$43,930$51,792$59,654
Indianapolis–Carmel–Greenwood, INLevel II $39,499 · Level III $43,472 · Level IV $47,466$35,506$39,499$43,472$47,466
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $42,224 · Level III $50,523 · Level IV $58,822$33,925$42,224$50,523$58,822
Cleveland, OHLevel II $28,850 · Level III $30,368 · Level IV $31,866$27,352$28,850$30,368$31,866
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $34,549 · Level III $37,253 · Level IV $39,978$31,824$34,549$37,253$39,978
Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SCLevel II $40,539 · Level III $46,238 · Level IV $51,917$34,861$40,539$46,238$51,917

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

See Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in every metro area

All 18 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

Find jobs on Where They Hire

U.S. jobsJobs abroadCompanies

Related occupations · Production

Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsInspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersFirst-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersPackaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersWelders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersBakersLaundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersProduction Workers, All Other

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology