Is this a competitive Motion Picture Projectionists salary in 2026?
Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS June 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q2 2026 wage growth.
$Competitive · ~P50
P10$23K
P25$30K
P50$38K
P75$78K
P90$88K
Drag the dot or type an amount above.
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Demand: ACTIVE. Demand is active -- retail openings are at 4.8% (JOLTS, June 2026). A balanced market where the median is a solid, competitive anchor.
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Merit budget: Wages in retail trade are rising about 3.4% a year (BLS ECI, Q2 2026). Budget a 3.0-3.5% merit increase to hold this role at market.
Our read
For a competitive 2026 offer, target $38,272 to $77,730 (market median to the 75th percentile). The median-to-P75 range keeps offers competitive.
Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.
How Motion Picture Projectionists pay is moving in 2026
Trend, demand, and spread context from BLS OEWS, JOLTS, and ECI
Pay trend
Median pay for this role rose 0.3% between the May 2024 and May 2025 BLS surveys, trailing the 3.4% wage growth of Retail Trade (BLS ECI).
Hiring demand · MODERATE
Retail Trade is running a 4.8% job-openings rate with quits at 3.0% (BLS JOLTS). Demand has tightened for 2 straight months (4.2% up to 4.8%).
Pay spread
Top earners (P90) make about 3.8 times what entry-level (P10) workers make in this role. That spread is wider than typical, so expect large pay differences by experience, employer size, and geography; build generous ranges and differentiate strongly.
What changed recently
Aug 4, 2026JOLTS June 2026: sector openings climbed to 4.8% and quits returned to 3.0%. Frontline churn pressure is building again.
Jul 31, 2026ECI Q2 2026: sector wages growing 3.4% per year, up from 3.1%, one of the few sectors accelerating.
Commentary is generated from published BLS figures (OEWS May 2025 vs May 2024, JOLTS June 2026, ECI Q2 2026) and refreshed each release. It is interpretation, not a BLS product.
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Motion Picture Projectionists is $38,272 per year ($18.40/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $30,035 and $77,730 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $88,317 per year. There are approximately 1,480 motion picture projectionists employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Set up and operate motion picture projection and related sound reproduction equipment.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-3.7%
Slower than average
Annual openings
500
per year, on avg
Workforce today
2K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 4 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Motion Picture and Video Industries
NAICS 512100
1K
$34,320
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events
NAICS 711300
100
$88,300
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
NAICS 712100
80
$70,190
Performing Arts Companies
NAICS 711100
60
$46,790
Wage range across top 5 industries: $34,320 to $88,300 (157% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$11.25
$23,400
P25
$14.44
$30,035
P50MEDIAN
$18.40
$38,272
P75
$37.37
$77,730
P90
$42.46
$88,317
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · retail sector
Active
Openings Rate
4.8%
Quits Rate
3.0%
Retail openings rose to 774K (+49K) in June, rate up to 4.8%. Frontline turnover picked back up with the quit rate at 3.0% -- expect continued churn-driven wage pressure in hourly roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average motion picture projectionists salary?
The national median salary for Motion Picture Projectionists is $38,272 per year ($18.40/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $30,035 and $77,730 annually.
How much do top-earning motion picture projectionists make?
The 90th percentile salary for Motion Picture Projectionists is $88,317 per year ($42.46/hr). The 75th percentile is $77,730 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for motion picture projectionists?
Entry-level Motion Picture Projectionists (10th percentile) earn approximately $23,400 per year ($11.25/hr). The 25th percentile is $30,035 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.
