Motion Picture Projectionists
Machines can already do 29% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 70%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Motion Picture Projectionists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 29% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 70% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 1,480 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $38,270 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 57% for contact with people.
- Also called: Booth Operator, Cinema Projectionist, Digital Projectionist, Film Specialist.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor operations to ensure that standards for sound and image projection quality are met | 21% | 40% to 80% | |
| Operate equipment to show films in a number of theaters simultaneously | 17% | 30% to 75% | |
| Start projectors and open shutters to project images onto screens | 10% | 30% to 75% | |
| Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as rotating or replacing xenon bulbs, cleaning projectors and lenses, lubricating machinery, and keeping electrical contacts clean and tight | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Open and close facilities according to rules and schedules | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Set up and adjust picture projectors and screens to achieve proper size, illumination, and focus of images, and proper volume and tone of sound | 7% | 30% to 75% | |
| Inspect projection equipment prior to operation to ensure proper working order | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Inspect movie films to ensure that they are complete and in good condition | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills motion picture projectionists use most, most used first.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Motion Picture Projectionists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of motion picture projectionists?
Machines can do 29% of the tasks of motion picture projectionists today and 70% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 39-3021.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Motion Picture Projectionists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/motion-picture-projectionists/