The developing room may be wet and humid. Photofinishers often wear rubber gloves and aprons to protect themselves. Photographic process machine operators do repetitive work. They must be able to work rapidly without making errors. Precision process workers, such as airbrushers and spotters, may experience eye fatigue because they look closely at pictures.
Wages vary according to training and experience.
Entry level wages may be lower. Precision photofinishers earn higher wages than those who just operate the machines. Pay varies by skill level, experience, and geographic location. Full-time photofinishers generally receive benefits such as health insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave. There were 650 people employed as photographic processing machine operators and tenders in Indiana in 1998.