Career Explorer Production
Human edge, steady
Photographic process workers and processing machine operators
Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.
Changing faster than most: more resilient than 26% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by -5.6% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on physical dexterity.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $40,610
- Job growth to 2035
- -5.6%
- Openings a year
- 600
- People doing it (2025)
- 5,300
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then short on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Process digital or online data
- Prepare mixtures or solutions
- Read documents or materials to inform work processes
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Operate industrial processing or production equipment
- Inspect completed work or finished products
- Load products, materials, or equipment for transportation or further processing
What the work looks like
- Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
- Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
- Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
- Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
- Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- Fewer of these jobs, as technology allows consumers to easily print their own photos instead of relying on a service. People also print fewer photos and store them on the computer or online.
- Fewer of these jobs, as technology allows consumers to easily print their own photos instead of relying on a service. People also print fewer photos and store them on computer or online.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Shoe and leather workers and repairersHuman edge, steady, Index 54, -6.5%
- Semiconductor processing techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 87, +8.2%
- Layout workers, metal and plasticHuman edge, steady, Index 50, -3.4%
- Furniture finishersHuman edge, steady, Index 65, -3.5%
Also known as: Photo Lab Technician (Photographic Laboratory Technician), Photo Printer, Photo Specialist, Photo Technician, Digital Printer Operator, Film Processor, Film Technician, Lab Technician.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.