Photographic Laboratory Workers
Overview
Introduction
Photographic laboratory workers develop and process photographic images from film or digital media. They also may perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints. Occasionally, they mount slides as well as sort and package finished photographic prints. They may also be known as darkroom technicians, photo lab technicians, film laboratory technicians, and developers. There are approximately 9,200 photographic process workers and processing machine operators employed in the...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Median annual earnings for photographic process workers and processing machine operators were $35,620 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Earnings ranged from less than $29,390 to $65,480 or more a year. Fifty percent of these workers earned between $31,950 and $44,650. Most salaried photographic workers are eligible for benefits such as medical insurance.
Work Environment
Photographic laboratories are usually clean, well lit (except for darkroom areas), and air-conditioned. Many of the jobs performed by semiskilled workers are limited and repetitive and may become monotonous. The jobs often entail sitting or standing in one place for a considerable amount of time. Employees in these jobs need patience and the ability to concentrate on details.
Some employ...
Outlook
Employment for photographic process workers and processing machine operators is expected to grow by 2 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. This is more slowly than the average for all careers. Most openings will occur as a result of the need to replace workers, especially machine operators.
Digital photography is extremely popu...
