Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators Pay Data UK — 2025

Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators roles in the UK earn a median of £34,500 per year, equivalent to £16.25 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 16.0% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £29,500 in West Midlands to £38,500 in Yorkshire and The Humber. Pay has risen over the past 4 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £32,643/yr (6% above our computed national average).

Labour Market

Employment figures from ONS Annual Population Survey (APS). Counts are estimates; suppressed cells (small samples) are excluded from totals.

Pay by Region

Annual pay for Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators across UK regions. The bar shows the typical pay range (25th–75th percentile); the diamond marks the median.

Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).

How Pay Has Changed Over Time

Annual pay grew by +16.0% from 2024 to 2025.

National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot. Shaded band shows 25th–75th percentile range.

Year-on-Year Pay Change

Annual percentage change in median pay for Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators.

Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.

About Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators

Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators operate and assist with still, cine and television cameras, operate other equipment to record, manipulate and project sound and vision for entertainment, cultural, commercial and industrial purposes and operate drones to provide aerial video and photographs.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• selects subject and conceives composition of picture or discusses composition with colleagues
• arranges subject, lighting, camera equipment and any microphones
• inserts lenses and adjusts aperture and speed settings as necessary
• operates scanning equipment to transfer image to computer and manipulates image to achieve the desired effect
• photographs subject or follows action by moving camera
• takes, records and manipulates digital images and digital video footage
• controls transmission, broadcasting and satellite systems for television and radio programmes, identifies and solves related technical problems
• checks operation and positioning of projectors, vision and sound recording equipment, and mixing and dubbing equipment
• operates equipment to record, edit and play back films and television programmes
• manages health and safety issues
• operates sound mixing and dubbing equipment to obtain desired mix, level and balance of sound
• maintains, repairs, programs and operates unmanned aircraft to provide aerial photographs and video

Entry Routes and Qualifications

There are no set academic requirements although entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades and are able to demonstrate proof of pre- entry work experience. A variety of diplomas, degrees and postgraduate qualifications are available. Vocational qualifications in Photography are available at levels 1,2 and 3.

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.