Cinematographer Salary in Chicago, Illinois

How much does a Cinematographer make in Chicago, IL?

As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Cinematographer in Chicago, IL is $77,490. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $68,182 to $89,897, with most professionals earning between $59,708 and $101,193.

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Salary range for a Cinematographer

$68,182 to $89,897

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What is a Cinematographer?

A Cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the chief over the camera and light crews working on a film, television production or other live action piece and is responsible for making artistic and technical decisions related to the image. The study and practice of this field is referred to as cinematography. The Cinematographer selects the camera, film stock, lenses, filters, etc., to realize the scene in accordance with the intentions of the director. Relations between the Cinematographer and director vary; in some instances the director will allow the ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 09/06/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Cinematographer in Chicago, IL

What does a Cinematographer do?

Common responsibilities of a Cinematographer

Create sizzle reels, pitch reels, case studies, marketing pieces, promotional videos, how to videos and day-to-day social videos for both internal and external stakeholders.

February 09, 2023

Collaborate with the marketing and product marketing teams in the creation of internal and external video content.

February 13, 2023

Manage all aspects of project development, pre-production, production and post, including writing, shooting, editing, motion graphics, selection of music, and editorial.

February 28, 2023

Operate and maintain camera and audio equipment using standard industry practices.

March 01, 2023

Stay up-to-date with emerging video technologies and standard industry practices.

April 15, 2023

Develop media and presentations working in tandem with Marketing and/or Customer Management to help develop new concepts or for presentation to external customers.

April 24, 2023

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Cinematographer Salary By Experience Levels in Chicago, IL

How much should you be earning in Cinematographer in Chicago, IL based on your current experience?

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RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE

Length of experience is a pay differentiator. Those with greater experience may have an advantage in negotiating salary. For those with less experience, other factors such as education or special skills could impact your pay. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.

Cinematographer Salary By Level of Education in Chicago, IL

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LEVEL OF EDUCATION

Depending on the job, educational levels may have a significant impact on pay levels. Be informed and understand how things like education and certifications can help to increase potential earnings for the career you are interested in. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.

Average Salary Range for Cinematographer in Chicago, IL

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

68182

89897

77490

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

68940

93130

79063

What is the average salary for Cinematographer in 2025?

These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Cinematographer in Chicago, IL. The base salary for Cinematographer ranges from $68,182 to $89,897 with the average base salary of $77,490. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $68,940 to $93,130 with the average total cash compensation of $79,063.

View Average Salary for Cinematographer as table

	Average Salary	Average Salary Range
Base Salary	$77,490	$68,182 - $89,897
Bonus	$1,572	$758 - $3,233
Total Pay	$79,063	$68,940 - $93,130

* Base Salary represents gross income before taxes and deductions. It does not include additional pay such as benefits, bonuses, profit sharing or commissions.

* Total Pay combines base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.

Cinematographer Salary Near Chicago, IL

CITY, STATE	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Cicero, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $68,182 - $89,897	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL 0%
CITY, STATE Oak Park, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $68,182 - $89,897	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL 0%
CITY, STATE Oak Lawn, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $68,103 - $89,793	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Evanston, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $68,156 - $89,863	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Skokie, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $68,156 - $89,863	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Arlington Heights, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $66,757 - $88,018	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL

See salaries for Cinematographer in locations close to Chicago, IL. Pay for the same job may vary based on the location and on the location and on other factors such as the size of company, the industry, and other local conditions.

About Chicago, Illinois

Chicago (/ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ (listen), locally also /-ˈkɔː-/), officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in Illinois, as well as the third most populous city in the United States. With an estimated population of 2,716,450 (2017), it is the most populous city in the Midwest. Chicago is the principal city of the Chicago metropolitan area, often referred to as Chicagoland, and the county seat of Cook County, the second most populous county in the United States. The metropolitan area, at nearly 10 million people, is the third-largest in the United States, and the fourth largest in North A...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

View Salary for Similar Jobs to Cinematographer in Chicago, IL

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JOB TITLE	LOCATION	MINIMUM SALARY	MAXIMUM SALARY
JOB TITLE Cinematographer Editor	LOCATION Chicago, IL	MINIMUM SALARY $66,660	MAXIMUM SALARY $84,303
JOB TITLE Freelance Cinematographer	LOCATION Chicago, IL	MINIMUM SALARY $58,301	MAXIMUM SALARY $77,025

The Cinematographer job could be listed using titles that are not exactly the same, but actually are for the same or very similar job. Here are some job titles in Chicago, IL that might be a good fit for the type of job and salary you are looking for.

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