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Skilled Trades

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.

Median salary (BLS)

$40,610

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$30k – $69k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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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 "Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators" — 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 Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

    Entry / Junior

    $30,090

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

    Established

    $40,610

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

    Senior

    $54,705

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
  • •Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
  • •Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
  • •Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
  • •Review computer-processed digital images for quality.

Fields of study

Any field

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