Creative pay 2026
Videographer salary in Illinois (2026)
Videographers and camera operators in Illinois earn a median $100,170 a year ($48.16 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 34% more than the US median of $74,990, and 2nd-highest of 47 states and territories with published figures. It is 1.9 times the median for all jobs in Illinois.
- $100,170median a year in Illinois
- $48.16median an hour
- +34%vs the US median ($74,990)
- 1,060employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a videographer in Illinois?
Half of videographers and camera operators in Illinois earn between $69,900 and $126,860. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (3.4 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $38,840 | $38,520 | $18.68 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $69,900 | $50,920 | $33.60 |
| Median | $100,170 | $74,990 | $48.16 |
| 75th | $126,860 | $106,660 | $60.99 |
| 90th percentile | $133,940 | $135,180 | $64.40 |
The mean (average) is $96,520, below the median.
How does Illinois compare with other states?
Illinois is in the top five for videographers and camera operators' pay. Only California pays more.
| Indiana | $56,810 | −43% | 200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $57,220 | −43% | 90 |
| Kentucky | $53,790 | −46% | 170 |
| Wisconsin | $52,810 | −47% | 300 |
Which cities in Illinois pay videographers and camera operators best?
Of the 2 metro areas in Illinois where BLS publishes a median for the job, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays most, at $102,370, 2% above the state median.
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 740 | $102,370 | $49.22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 70 | $71,360 | $34.31 |
How many videographers and camera operators work in Illinois?
BLS estimates 1,060 employee jobs, 0.17 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is concentrated here: Illinois's share of employment in it is 1.25 times the national share (BLS's location quotient). The employment estimate is rough: its relative standard error is 33%.
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in Illinois?
Videographer is the best-paid of these creative jobs in Illinois.
| UX/UI designer | $85,710 | 2,050 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $81,180 | 630 |
| Video editor | $72,460 | 310 |
| Copywriter | $68,220 | 2,640 |
| Graphic designer | $62,560 | 8,960 |
| Photographer | $36,570 | 2,150 |
What do freelance videographers and camera operators charge?
Upwork, videographers list $10 to $53 an hour, worldwide. Illinois's employee median of $48.16 an hour is inside that range. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average videographer salary in Illinois?
The median is $100,170 a year and the mean is $96,520, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,060 employee jobs.
How much does a videographer make an hour in Illinois?
The median hourly wage is $48.16. The bottom 10% earn under $18.68 and the top 10% over $64.40.
What does a starting videographer earn in Illinois?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of videographers and camera operators in Illinois earn under $69,900 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $38,840, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 27-4031, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 1,060 jobs in the Illinois estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Videographer pay in other states
- California $106,900
- New York $93,410
- Georgia $85,050
- Colorado $74,990
- Arizona $68,250
- Maryland $65,870
- Ohio $64,860
- Texas $63,110
- North Carolina $62,720
- Florida $62,220
- Nevada $62,110
- Massachusetts $61,320