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Motion Picture Projectionists: Career Overview
Set up and operate motion picture projection and related sound reproduction equipment.
What Tasks Do Motion Picture Projectionists Perform?
The core tasks performed by motion picture projectionists span:
- 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.
- Set up and adjust picture projectors and screens to achieve proper size, illumination, and focus of images, and proper volume and tone of sound.
- Inspect projection equipment prior to operation to ensure proper working order.
- Perform minor repairs, such as replacing worn sprockets, or notify maintenance personnel of the need for major repairs.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective motion picture projectionists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Motion Picture Projectionists Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Booth Operator
- Booth Usher
- Cinema Operator
- Cinema Projectionist
- Cinematographer
- Digital Projectionist
- Equipment Operator
- Film Projector Operator
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 486,297 motion picture projectionists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +14.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Motion Picture Projectionists
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $25,099 |
| Hourly median | $12.07 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 |
| 75th percentile | $30,434 |
| 90th percentile | $35,769 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Motion Picture Projectionists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $87,870 |
| New York | $76,970 |
| Illinois | $75,380 |
| Washington | $36,780 |
| Idaho | $34,790 |
| Ohio | $32,970 |
| Tennessee | $32,570 |
| Wisconsin | $31,760 |
| Texas | $29,770 |
| North Dakota | $29,550 |
| Iowa | $28,640 |
| Missouri | $28,340 |
| Michigan | $28,130 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for motion picture projectionists vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $76,970 | 33.9% | 3.50 |
| Far Western US | $72,732 | 21.8% | 1.13 |
| Rocky Mountains | $34,790 | 2.4% | 3.26 |
| Great Lakes | $32,690 | 10.5% | 1.31 |
| Southeast | $32,570 | 8.9% | 2.57 |
| Southwest | $29,770 | 7.3% | 0.49 |
| Plains States | $28,642 | 15.3% | 3.82 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $119,090 | 120 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $81,490 | |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $79,860 | 350 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of motion picture projectionists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Information | 1,340 | $33,860 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 320 | $53,160 |
Motion Picture Projectionists work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Operating system software: Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for motion picture projectionists reflects the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Telephone Conversations
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level motion picture projectionists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Photonics Technicians (Supplemental)
- Media Technical Directors/Managers (Supplemental)
- Audio and Video Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Broadcast Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Sound Engineering Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Lighting Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (Primary-Long)
- Office Machine Operators, Except Computer (Supplemental)
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists).
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