Motion Picture and Video Production — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the motion picture and video production industry earns $114,869 per year ($55.23/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Motion Picture and Video Production Workers Earn?
At $114,869/year (equivalent to $55.23/hour for a full-time worker), motion picture and video production wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.
Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.
The typical motion picture and video production business employs 8 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average motion picture and video production business generating $2.0M/year with 8 employees at $114,869 each, total payroll represents roughly 46.4% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a motion picture and video productionbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $149,330/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 8 employees = ~$918,952/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $55.23/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $2.0M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Motion Picture and Video Production revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do motion picture and video production employees make?
- The average motion picture and video production employee earns $114,869 per year, which is equivalent to $55.23/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the motion picture and video production industry?
- The motion picture and video production industry employs 205,865 workers across 25,215 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 8 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).