Careers in the Film Industry: Statistics and Info

Learn what to expect from working in the film industry.

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Film Industry Career Outlook

The film industry is big business. Even so, there has been speculation about how increased ticket prices, faster turn-around times for new movies being released on Netflicks, DVD and Blu-ray and new technology could negatively impact the bottom line for movie theaters and, by extension, the film industry.

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Box Office Grosses

Year	Total Domestic Gross (in millions)*	Change
2011	$10,173.9	-3.7%
2010	$10,565.5	-0.3%
2009	$10,595.5	+10.0%
2008	$9,630.6	-0.3%
2007	$9,663.7	+4.9%

_{*Box Office Mojo}

Film Industry Job Growth

The latest published data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the motion picture and video industry is expected to grow 14 percent by 2018. In any case, it seems clear that despite yearly fluctuations in box office numbers, Hollywood isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That's good news for people hoping to start careers in the film industry.

Film Industry Salaries

Predicting your future earning potential in the film industry is tricky. There are many key factors to consider. What kind of budgets will they have? Will you have a lot of down-time between projects? In addition, your salary may also depend on how well you network and how well-known you become.

The following table gives some general information about film industry salaries:

Job Title	Yearly Income of Middle 50%*
Directors and Producers – Stage, Film, Video, TV	$45,470 – $111,720
Camera Operators – Film, Video, TV	$28,240 – $58,360
Film and Video Editors	$35,120 – $74,470

_{*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010}

In film industry jobs, the pay may not be the same on every project. You'll take some jobs for the credit rather than the money. In other words, you shouldn't enter the film industry because of the promise of a big salary. However, working in a job that challenges and excites you is a reward in itself. And with determination and luck, you can achieve the financial rewards as well.