Film projectionists are responsible for running the equipment that shows movies in theaters. Although there were fewer than 10,000 working nationwide as of May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession is likely to see even further work force reduction thanks to new technologies that reduce the need for human operators. Most projectionists earned less than $30,000 a year, according to the bureau.
According to the bureau, the average annual salary for the 8,890 film projectionists working nationwide was $22,200, or $10.67 an hour. The top 10 percent could earn $29,870 or more, the equivalent of $14.36 an hour. The bottom 10 percent earned $16,430 or less, equal to $7.90 an hour -- just 9 percent more than the federal minimum wage.
Although the motion picture industry employed 93 percent of projectionists, according to the bureau, and paid them $22,040, or $10.60 an hour, there were potentially more lucrative opportunities for a lucky few. For instance, museums and historical sites employed 130 projectionists and paid them an average of $29,030, or $13.96 an hour. The 40 projectionists who found work in higher education earned an average of $28,860, or $13.88 an hour. These salaries were 31 percent and 30 percent above the average for the profession, respectively.
Hooray for Hollywood
California was, fittingly, the home to the largest number of film projectionists. The Golden State saw 1,300 projectionists working within its borders, where they earned an average of $25,610, or $12.31 an hour. The 490 working in the Los Angeles area -- home of Hollywood -- averaged $27,950, or $13.44 an hour. Californians in general made 15 percent above the occupational average, while Hollywood projectionists made 26 percent more.
A Slate article from December 2010 described how technology is slowly rendering film projectionists obsolete. The article reported that, as of publication, there were more theaters in the United States than ever before -- but fewer individual movie houses. In addition, a trend that began with longer-lasting bulbs and larger film reels known as "platters," which reduced the need for reel changes in the 1960s and 1970s, has continued with digital technology eliminating reels entirely and automation requiring fewer and less-skilled workers. A reduction in employment could have a negative effect on salaries as more projectionists compete for fewer jobs.
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