All careers

Motion Picture Projectionists

Set up and operate motion picture projection and related sound reproduction equipment.

What you’d do

  • Monitor operations to ensure that standards for sound and image projection quality are met.
  • Start projectors and open shutters to project images onto screens.
  • Open and close facilities according to rules and schedules.
  • Operate equipment to show films in a number of theaters simultaneously.
  • Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as rotating or replacing xenon bulbs, cleaning projectors and lenses, lubricating machinery, and keeping electrical contacts clean and tight.
  • Set up and adjust picture projectors and screens to achieve proper size, illumination, and focus of images, and proper volume and tone of sound.
  • Inspect projection equipment prior to operation to ensure proper working order.
  • Perform minor repairs, such as replacing worn sprockets, or notify maintenance personnel of the need for major repairs.

Skills that matter

  • Operations Monitoring
  • Active Listening
  • Operation and Control
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Complex Problem Solving

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Booth Operator
  • Movie Projectionist
  • Projectionist
  • Technical Projection Guide
  • Cinema Projectionist
  • Digital Projectionist

Related careers

See all careers

  • Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

    Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Lighting Technicians

    Set up, maintain, and dismantle light fixtures, lighting control devices, and the associated lighting electrical and rigging equipment…

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Install, repair, or adjust audio or television receivers, stereo systems, camcorders, video systems, or other electronic entertainment…

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

    Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Audio and Video Technicians

    Set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and…

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Prepress Technicians and Workers

    Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree