by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 103 U.S. colleges awarded 1,329 degrees and certificates in Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 41 schools in its 2027 Best Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $22,574 one year after completing, rising to $37,970 after four years.
Studying Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant explores Photographic And Film/video Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To The Operation And Maintenance Of Camera And Lighting Equipment And The Production Of Finished Still, Video, And Film Products Under The Supervision Of Photographers, Directors, And Editors. Includes Instruction In Equipment Setup And Maintenance; Lighting; Power Supplies; Studio And Film Set Tasks Such As Camera Operator, Grip, And Best Boy; Plate And Negative Handling And Development; Laboratory Procedures; And Digital Software Applications. Examples: [Photographic And Film/video Assistant].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant is a popular field of study, with 1,329 degrees awarded annually. 103 colleges award photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 95.
By level, the 1,329 awards include 151 certificates, 369 associate degrees, 72 bachelor’s degrees and 718 master’s degrees.
Women earned 51% of photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant degrees and certificates in the latest year (682 of 1,329). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (558) and Hispanic or Latino (454), and international students earned 25.
College Factual ranks 41 schools in its 2027 Best Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant Schools ranking, including 13 for associate degrees and 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant schools within 5 states. In all, 103 colleges offer photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant credential is the master’s degree: 718 of the 1,329 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant call most for Monitoring, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Computers and Electronics, Communications and Media and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Oral Expression and Information Ordering.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 151 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 369 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 72 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 718 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant, at 42.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 42.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 25.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 19.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.2% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant, with an average median salary of $59,089; the strongest outlook belongs to Lighting Technicians, at 13.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Stagehand, Theater Technician, AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician) and Service Technician (Service Tech).
The occupation related to photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant with the most projected jobs is Audio and Video Technicians, at 360,660.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | 360,660 | 6.8% |
| Lighting Technicians | 99,715 | 13.2% |
Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant graduates earn a median $22,574 one year after completing their program, $37,970 after four years and $33,987 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $22,574 |
| 4 years | $37,970 |
| 5 years | $33,987 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to photographic & film/video technology/technician & assistant, with a median salary of $73,086.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $73,086 |
| Lighting Technicians | $45,092 |
Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant has 4 similar majors in the Communications Technology/Support field, which together award 6,026 degrees a year; the largest are Recording Arts Technology/Technician (3,679), Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician (1,491) and Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other (841). Browse all Communications Technology/Support majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Recording Arts Technology/Technician | 3,679 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician | 1,491 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other | 841 |
| Voice Writing Technology/Technician | 15 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
