Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Also called: Air Brush Artist, Airbrush Artist, Art Tracer, Automatic Developer, Automatic Mounter, Automatic Print Developer, Black and White Printer Operator, Color Laboratory Technician
Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media.
What Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators do
Typical tasks
- Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
- Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
- Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
- Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
- Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
- Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.
- Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes.
- Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas.
- Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices.
- Operate special equipment to perform tasks such as transferring film to videotape or producing photographic enlargements.
- Examine developed prints for defects, such as broken lines, spots, or blurs.
- Read work orders to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary
The median annual wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators is $40,610 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $30,090 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $68,800. The mean annual wage is $46,050.
The mean hourly wage of $22.00 is 3.0× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $40,610 → in 3 years $43,900 → in 5 years $46,200 → in 10 years $52,500 (10-year range $45,200–$61,000). The model assumes pay growth of +2.6% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.