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Skilled Trades

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment.

Median salary (BLS)

$52,720

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$34k – $84k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $70,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

    Entry / Junior

    $34,320

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

    Established

    $52,720

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

    Senior

    $68,330

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Adjust cameras, photographic mechanisms, or equipment such as range and view finders, shutters, light meters, or lens systems, using hand tools.
  • •Disassemble equipment to gain access to defect, using hand tools.
  • •Test equipment performance, focus of lens system, diaphragm alignment, lens mounts, or film transport, using precision gauges.
  • •Clean and lubricate cameras and polish camera lenses, using cleaning materials and work aids.
  • •Requisition parts or materials.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.