Also called: Projection Technician, Booth Operator
Runs and maintains the projectors in movie theaters, including rare 35mm and 70mm film prints.
A projectionist checks digital projectors and sound before showtimes, and at specialty theaters threads giant 70mm film reels by hand for special screenings.
BLS projectionists median about $33k.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. A high school diploma plus on-the-job training at a theater; specialty theaters teach 35mm and 70mm film handling to experienced staff.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Shrinking (about -5% over 10 years). Digital projection has eliminated many projectionist jobs.
High risk for 10 years. Digital projectors run automatically from schedules, so very few projectionist jobs remain beyond 35mm specialty houses.
Age 16+. One way to start: Apply to movie theaters (independent and repertory theaters still run film) for staff jobs and ask to train in the booth
Classes: Electronics, Film studies or media, Shop class, Computer applications.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-3021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.