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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

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$200–$1,150

Time to qualify

1.5 yr

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    High school diploma or GED

    Course

    Expected 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. 2

    On-the-job training

    Experience

    Employer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.

    Cost varies · 3 months source

  3. 3

    State license — supervised hours + exam

    License

    Most 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

  1. Junior Motion Picture Projectionists

    Entry / Junior

    $23,390

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Motion Picture Projectionists

    Established

    $38,270

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. 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

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