Social Services
Motion Picture Projectionists
Set up and operate motion picture projection and related sound reproduction equipment.
Median salary (BLS)
$38,270
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$23k – $88k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Plan a path to Motion Picture Projectionists
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →How to qualify
EstimateLicense requiredCost to qualify
$200–$1,150
Time to qualify
1.5 yr
Renewal
$75/yr
- 1
High school diploma or GED
CourseExpected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.
$0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source
- 2
On-the-job training
ExperienceEmployer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.
Cost varies · 3 months source
- 3
State license — supervised hours + exam
LicenseMost counseling and social-work roles (LCSW/LPC pattern) require supervised experience hours and a state exam.
$200–$1,000 · 12 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source
Estimated typical U.S. route for "Motion Picture Projectionists" — 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
Junior Motion Picture Projectionists
Entry / Junior
$23,390
~2 yrs to advance
Motion Picture Projectionists
Established
$38,270
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Motion Picture Projectionists
Senior
$63,290
Key skills
A typical day
- •Monitor operations to ensure that standards for sound and image projection quality are met.
- •Start projectors and open shutters to project images onto screens.
- •Open and close facilities according to rules and schedules.
- •Operate equipment to show films in a number of theaters simultaneously.
- •Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as rotating or replacing xenon bulbs, cleaning projectors and lenses, lubricating machinery, and keeping electrical contacts clean and tight.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Social Services
Explore all- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Wisconsin–Madison49% admit · $72,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.