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Photographic and film processors (NOC 9474)

Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment Workforce and employment statistics
Job requirements Work-related skills Related careers Career paths and resources
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About this job

Photographic and film processors work for film processing laboratories and retail photofinishing establishments and perform a variety of tasks.

People in this occupation:

  • process and finish still photographic film and motion picture film
Common job titles
  • analyzer, colour films
  • enlarger / quick print machine
  • motion picture film developer
  • negative cutter / restorer / retoucher
  • photo developer / processor / finisher
  • technician, darkroom
  • analyzer, colour films
  • enlarger / quick print machine
  • motion picture film developer
  • negative cutter / restorer / retoucher
  • photo developer / processor / finisher
  • technician, darkroom

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$38,582

Source: Full-time, full-year median employment income, 2016 census

Provincial hourly rate

  • High
  • Median
  • Low

N/A - Data not available

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2021 - 2026
  • 2026 - 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 120

  • 2022
  • 2026
  • 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
42.9%
60 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
57.1%
80 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Kootenay
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2021:
280
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.4%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
100
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Northeast
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2021:
50
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.5%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
20
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2021:
40
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.3%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
10

N/A - Data not available

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Photographic and film processors perform some or all of the following duties:

  • control equipment to develop film and to print black and white and colour photographs
  • operate photographic enlarging equipment to produce prints and enlarged photographs from negatives
  • run equipment to develop motion picture film
  • tend automatic equipment in retail establishments to develop colour negatives, prints and slides
  • run equipment to transfer film to video tape
  • retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects
  • splice film and mount film on reels
  • measure and mix chemicals for processing
  • inspect rolls of photographic prints to ensure that they meet specifications
  • check motion picture film for defects in developing and printing

Work environment

Key aspects of work in this occupation:
  • Photographic and film processors usually work in a conventional controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school
  • Work may involve chemicals that are harmful to skin or eyes, dangerous if inhaled or may cause a fire or explosion.

 

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

400 workers are employed
31% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by gender

  Men
  Women

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by age group

  15 - 24 years
  25 - 44 years
  45 - 64 years
  65+ years

Source: 2016 Census

Labour force by industry

Retail Trade:
48%
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services:
20%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
15%
Information, Culture and Recreation:
6%
Public Administration:
4%
View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2016 Census

Career paths and resources

Career paths

  • There is mobility among occupations within laboratory processing operations.
  • Progression is possible from automatic machine tenders in retail establishments to laboratory processing occupations.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

Profile last updated:
May 25, 2022
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