Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film vs Public Relations Specialists: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film vs Public Relations Specialists: what changes?

Consider Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film if you want to operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions. Consider Public Relations Specialists if you would rather promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film and Public Relations Specialists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

National median pay (2025): $74,990
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,500

Know before you choose

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

See the full Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film brief

Public Relations Specialists

National median pay (2025): $74,750
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 23,000

Know before you choose

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

See the full Public Relations Specialists brief

How the national numbers differ

Public Relations Specialists has the edge on annual openings

Public Relations Specialists is at 23,000 annual openings, compared with 2,500 annual openings for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film.

Typical preparation differs.

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: Bachelor's degree Public Relations Specialists: Bachelor's degree Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Public Relations Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Public Relations Specialists is at 1.8% projected growth, compared with 1.3% projected growth for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

46.8/ 100

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

57.2/ 100

Public Relations Specialists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film vs Public Relations Specialists

Dimension	Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film	Public Relations Specialists
Median pay (2025)	$74,990	$74,750
Pay percentile	65 percentile	64.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	1.3%	1.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	2,500	23,000
2025 employment	32,600	314,500
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree	Bachelor's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film brief Read Public Relations Specialists brief

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film vs Public Relations Specialists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Public Relations Specialists

How the national numbers differ

Public Relations Specialists has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Public Relations Specialists has the edge on projected growth

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film vs Public Relations Specialists

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