Occupation · SOC 49-9061.00
Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment.
Also called: Camera Repair Technician · Camera Repairman · Camera Technician · Repair Technician · Photo Equipment Technician · Photo Technologist · Photographic Equipment Repair Technician · Photographic Equipment Technician · Photographic Technician (Photo Tech) · Repairman · Aircraft Photographic Equipment Mechanic · Aircraft Photographic Equipment Repairer
Job family: Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-49-9061-00/context.md directly.
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Task areas most often handled directively in observed AI conversations — candidates to delegate with light review.
Task areas where a human was still judged necessary in a large share of observed conversations — not a safety ruling, an observed-need signal.
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
48th-percentile task overlap — yet about 200 openings a year (-15.1% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Moderate | 49th | 0.1 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Moderate | 40th | 0.4 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate | 58th | 0.2 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.0), with simple added tooling (β 0.2), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.4). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Mixed signals. Today's AI/LLM studies show relatively low exposure for this job, but the older (2013) Frey–Osborne work rated it higher for computerization and robotics. Different eras, different technologies — the AI measures above reflect the current state.
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 1.0 · 94th percentile among occupations · High
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Measure parts to verify specified dimensions or settings, such as camera shutter speed or light meter reading accuracy, using measuring instruments. | 0.4% | |
| Test equipment performance, focus of lens system, diaphragm alignment, lens mounts, or film transport, using precision gauges. | 0.2% |
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -15.1% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 200 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 2,300 → 1,900 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Precision-instrument Makers and Repairers · 7311 | 21% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
How people actually apply AI to this occupation's tasks, from Claude.ai (Free and Pro) conversations in the Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15. This is one AI assistant's consumer sample — not all AI, not the whole workforce. Autonomy and the collaboration mix are model-rated estimates; figures below the sample floor are hidden.
| Most common way people use AI here | Directive · AI does it; you give the instruction |
| Typical AI autonomy | 3.0 / 5 · higher = AI acts more independently |
The role's most common tasks in AI conversations, each tagged with how people work with the AI on it. “Usage” is the share of observed conversations, not of the job.
| Task | How | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Measure parts to verify specified dimensions or settings, such as camera shutter speed or light meter reading accuracy, using measuring instruments. | Directive | 0.4% |
Tasks where the model most often judged that a person remained necessary — a useful read on the current boundary, not a guarantee.
| Measure parts to verify specified dimensions or settings, such as camera shutter speed or light meter reading accuracy, using measuring instruments. | 89.2% |
Example prompts phrased from the tasks people most often delegate to AI in this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index). Each shows the underlying measured task and its share of observed AI use. They are suggested phrasings of real tasks — starting points, not endorsed instructions.
Help me measure parts to verify specified dimensions or settings, such as camera shutter speed or light meter reading accuracy, using measuring instruments. From: Measure parts to verify specified dimensions or settings, such as camera shutter speed or light meter reading accuracy, using measuring instruments. · 0.4% of measured AI use · directive
All 15 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
Newer responsibilities O*NET has flagged as growing for this occupation.
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
| Mechanical | 3.9 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.7 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.6 | |
| English Language | 3.5 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.3 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.9 | |
| Repairing | 3.8 | |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.4 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | |
| Time Management | 3.1 | |
| Equipment Selection | 3.0 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Near Vision | 3.9 | |
| Visualization | 3.8 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.6 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.4 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.4 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.3 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.3 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.1 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.0 | |
| Control Precision | 3.0 | |
| Far Vision | 3.0 | |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 3.0 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.0 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.0 | |
| Category Flexibility | 2.9 | |
| Perceptual Speed | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 | |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
| Example | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | Hot technology |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | |
| RepairTRAX | Data base user interface and query software | |
| Statistical process control SPC software | Industrial control software |
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
What to study: Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 32.3% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 28.5% | |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 13.3% | |
| Some College Courses | 10.8% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 8.0% | |
| Bachelor's Degree | 7.1% |
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
| Realistic | 6.9 | |
| Conventional | 4.8 | |
| Investigative | 2.7 | |
| Artistic | 1.9 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 6.0 | |
| Engineering | 4.4 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 2.3 | |
| Information Technology | 1.8 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 1.6 | |
| Media | 1.5 | |
| Physical Science | 1.5 | |
| Visual Arts | 1.4 |
| Attention to Detail | 2.8 | |
| Dependability | 2.2 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.9 | |
| Achievement Orientation | 1.4 |
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $36,020 |
| 25th percentile | $42,590 |
| Median (50th) | $49,300 |
| 75th percentile | $62,400 |
| 90th percentile | $76,550 |
| People employed | 2,010 |
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 250 | $47,740 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 190 | $67,060 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 70 | $48,770 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 50 | $59,010 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 50 | $48,120 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector | 30 | $44,430 |
| Information · Sector | — | $53,300 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing · Sector | — | $48,840 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | — | $49,300 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | — | $40,240 |
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 4.33× | 250 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 2.41× | 190 |
Part of the Arts, Entertainment, & Design career cluster.
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
Options the data surfaces for Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
How people typically prepare for this work.
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 37th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers show 48th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 200 annual U.S. openings
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers show 48th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 200 annual U.S. openings • Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers rank in the 48th percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 200 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-15.1%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $49,300, across about 2,010 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9061-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
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Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Singulariki. "Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9061-00
Singulariki. (2026). Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9061-00
@misc{singulariki-role-49-9061-00,
title = {Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9061-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.