Students who have a fascination with and talent for video production have the chance to major in radio, television and film (RTVF) in college. Most commonly, they go to work directly in the media production industry. With the knowledge they gain, they can operate video cameras, edit media using computer programs, and control other equipment used for radio, TV and film studios. There are multiple positions and working environments for qualified candidates, and salaries vary accordingly.
Camera Operators
One of the most common occupations that RTVF majors enter into is a career as a camera operator, recording video for TV programs, advertising commercials or film production. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009 the average wage of a camera operator was $48,450 a year, with the bottom 10 percent reporting salaries less than $20,300 a year and the top 10 percent earning more than $81,270 annually. The largest number of camera operators could be found in California and New York, earning $61,540 and $44,650 a year, respectively, but the highest-paying positions were in Washington, D.C., where the average pay was $66,250 a year. Most camera operators worked in radio and television broadcasting or the motion picture industry, earning averages of $41,630 and $52,380, respectively.
Film and Video Editors
Also a very common path for RTVF majors, film and video editors work with film or video after shooting has taken place, cutting and moving clips and editing audio to correspond. In 2009, they made an annual mean wage of $61,890, but the bottom 10th percentile earned wages less than $25,960 a year while the top 10th percentile earned more than $111,860 annually. California was again the state with the largest number of film and video editors as well as the highest average salary, with an annual mean wage of $84,790. The motion picture and video industry was by far the largest and best-paying employer, with an average salary of $68,680 a year, according to the bureau.
Broadcast Technicians
Broadcast technicians focus more on the audio aspect of radio and TV programming, operating equipment and setting levels during broadcast. Their average salary in 2009 was $41,170 a year, with the numbers ranging from less than $18,220 in the bottom 10th percentile to more than $72,350 a year in the top 10th percentile. Once again California employed more broadcast technicians than any other state, at $47,580 a year on average, but Washington, D.C., paid the highest wages at $63,950 a year. Radio and TV broadcasting companies employed the most technicians for $39,520 a year on average, while the federal government provided the highest wages, averaging $85,790 a year.
Radio Operators
While employment numbers are significantly smaller, RTVF majors have the opportunity to work as radio operators, controlling radio and communications equipment. The bureau states that these specialists made $44,510 a year on average in 2009. Salaries varied from less than $21,290 a year at the bottom to more than $69,250 a year at the top. California hired the most radio operators for an annual mean wage of $56,070, but New York reported the highest salaries at $56,870 a year. While a majority of radio operators worked for the government, earning $44,630 a year at the state level and $50,690 at the local level, there were a small number of jobs in radio and television broadcasting, but these positions paid only $26,010 a year on average.
Read more: The Salary of Jobs as a Radio, TV & Film Major | eHow.com
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