Film & Photographyat University of California-Berkeley
Graduates earn $29,011/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Film & Photography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $460K; scenarios range from $435K to $456K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Berkeley
Your UC Berkeley degree places you in an elite network, providing a significant advantage in the competitive film and photographic arts landscape. While initial earnings often reflect the independent, project-based nature of creative fields, your Berkeley affiliation can open doors to more substantial roles in the Bay Area's tech and media companies, or within established production houses in Los Angeles. Many graduates leverage their analytical skills into content strategy, creative direction, or project management positions, rather than purely artistic roles, leading to the observed earnings uplift compared to the national average.
However, the industry faces substantial disruption from AI. Tools for editing, visual effects, and even script generation mean you’ll need to master these technologies, not just traditional techniques. Your unique artistic vision and ability to manage complex productions will become paramount. Focus on building a robust portfolio and a strong professional network from day one; these are your most powerful assets for navigating a dynamic market.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC Berkeley's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Film & Photography
How UC Berkeley stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Berkeley
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Berkeley, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Film & Photography offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Film & Photography trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Film & Photography at UC Berkeley
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Film & Photography at University of California-Berkeley?
A score of 23/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Film & Photography. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Film & Photography careers?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $434,945 in decade earnings vs $455,971 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.