Personal Care and Service

Motion Picture Projectionists

7/100
#815 of 825
$38,270
median pay, U.S.
1,480
employed (2024)
-3.7%
growth, 2024–34
500
openings per year
No formal educational credential
typical entry education

Is motion picture projectionists a good career?

It scores 7/100 and ranks #815 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($38,270 vs $61,390)
  • Employment is projected to decline (-3.7% through 2034)

What motion picture projectionists earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. motion picture projectionists earn between $30,040 and $77,730 a year.

Best-paying states

New York statewide
$82,260
Illinois statewide
$78,990
California statewide
$74,840
Washington statewide
$39,070
Michigan statewide
$37,590
Ohio statewide
$36,870
Arizona statewide
$32,890
Texas statewide
$31,160
Pennsylvania statewide
$29,850
Missouri statewide
$29,140
$20k $80k $140k

Best-paying metros

01 Los Angeles, CA $92,180
02 Chicago, IL $85,460
03 New York, NY $82,270

Strongest employment concentration

01 New York 270
02 California 190
03 Iowa 100
04 Tennessee 90
05 Washington 60
06 Ohio 50

Live motion picture projectionists jobs

No live motion picture projectionists openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified motion picture projectionists openings will appear here — each shown against the $38,270 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become a motion picture projectionist

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

No formal educational credential · $32,150 median
No formal educational credential · $32,910 median
High school diploma or equivalent · $34,320 median
Questions about becoming a motion picture projectionist
How much do motion picture projectionists make?

The national median wage is $38,270 a year, with the middle half earning between $30,040 and $77,730 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is motion picture projectionists a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 7 of 100 and ranks #815 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -3.7% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a motion picture projectionist?

The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential.

Where do motion picture projectionists earn the most?

Among states, New York pays the highest median ($82,260). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →