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.

Also called: Digital Printer Operator, Film Processor, Film Technician, Lab Technician, Photo Lab Specialist, Photo Lab Technician (Photographic Laboratory Technician), Photo Printer, Photo Specialist, Photo Technician, Air Brush Artist, Airbrush Artist, Art Tracer, Automatic Developer, Automatic Mounter, Automatic Print Developer, Black and White Printer Operator, Color Laboratory Technician, Color Printer Operator, Computer-Controlled Color Photograph Printer Operator, Copy and Print Associate, Copy Camera Operator, Darkroom Technician, Developer, Developing Machine Operator, Digital Imager, Digital Imaging Technician, Digital Photo Printer, Digital Photo Technician, Digital Retoucher, Digital Technician, Doper, Drum Operator, Drum Worker, Enlarger, Film Cleaner, Film Color Tester, Film Cutter, Film Developer, Film Developing Machine Operator, Film Drying Machine Operator, Film Examiner, Film Inspector, Film Laboratory Technician, Film Mounter, Film Numberer, Film Printer, Film Process Operator, Film Processing Utility Worker, Film Reproducer, Film Splicer, Film Washer, Film Waxer, Full Stack Developer, Generator Technician, Hypo Splasher, Imaging Operator, Ink Technician, Joiner, Laboratory Associate, Laboratory Technician, Lithography Contact Worker, Magnifier, Microfilm Processor, Microfilm Technician, Mini-Lab Operator, Motion Picture Film Examiner, Motion Picture Printer, Negative Cleaner, Negative Cutter, Negative Restorer, Negative Retoucher, Negative Spotter, Photo Colorer, Photo Finisher, Photo Machine Operator, Photo Mask Pattern Generator, Photo Mask Processor, Photo Print Specialist, Photograph Developer, Photograph Enlarger, Photograph Finisher, Photograph Inspector, Photograph Mounter, Photograph Printer, Photograph Retoucher (Photo Retoucher), Photograph Tinter, Photographic Colorist, Photographic Hand Developer, Photographic Plate Maker, Photographic Press Screwmaker, Photographic Printer, Photographic Process Worker, Photographic Processing Machine Operator, Photographic Reproduction Technician, Photographic Restorer, Photographic Spotter, Photographic Technician, Photography Colorist, Photography Spotter, Photostat Operator, Picture Enlarger, Print Developer, Print Finisher, Print Machine Operator, Print Retoucher, Printed Circuit Board Panels Developer, Printed Circuit Boards Contact Printer, Printer, Processor, Projection Printer, Proof Passer, Rectification Printer, Reproducer, Reproduction Machine Loader, Reproduction Specialist, Reproduction Technician, Retoucher, School Photographs Detailer, Screen Examiner, Screen Maker, Semiconductor Wafers Photographic Aligner, Semiconductor Wafers Photographic Processor, Slide Maker, Spotter, Step and Repeat Reduction Camera Operator, Take-Down Sorter, Template Reproduction Technician, Timer, X-Ray Developer

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.
Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.
Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes.
Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas.
Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices.
Operate special equipment to perform tasks such as transferring film to videotape or producing photographic enlargements.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Quality Control Analysis
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Service Orientation
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Operation and Control
Judgment and Decision Making
Time Management

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (84.07% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

35,170–50,150 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9151.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (84.07% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators