Photographer Salary in the U.S.
Median annual pay in the U.S.
$44,660
$21.47/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,820 | $14.82 |
| 25th percentile | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Median | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| 75th percentile | $62,740 | $30.16 |
| 90th percentile | $91,810 | $44.14 |
Employment
- Employment in the U.S.
- 51,760
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Comparison
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | ||
| 1st | $110,970 | $100,973 1st |
| New York | ||
| 2nd | $60,050 | $55,643 2nd |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 3rd | $57,990 | $54,833 3rd |
| Oregon | ||
| 4th | $53,630 | $51,886 8th |
| Utah | ||
| 5th | $52,140 | $52,739 5th |
| Delaware | ||
| 6th | $50,100 | $50,196 10th |
| Connecticut | ||
| 7th | $49,790 | $48,055 12th |
| New Mexico | ||
| 8th | $48,090 | $52,152 7th |
| Washington | ||
| 9th | $48,050 | $44,901 18th |
| California | ||
| 10th | $47,840 | $43,208 22nd |
| Kentucky | ||
| 11th | $47,170 | $52,319 6th |
| Colorado | ||
| 12th | $47,070 | $45,676 16th |
| Maine | ||
| 13th | $46,680 | $48,099 11th |
| Virginia | ||
| 14th | $46,550 | $46,042 15th |
| Minnesota | ||
| 15th | $46,470 | $47,120 13th |
| Maryland | ||
| 16th | $46,450 | $44,255 20th |
| Hawaii | ||
| 17th | $45,960 | $41,800 31st |
| Mississippi | ||
| 18th | $45,860 | $52,741 4th |
| South Dakota | ||
| 19th | $45,330 | $51,171 9th |
| New Hampshire | ||
| 20th | $44,780 | $42,989 24th |
| Georgia | ||
| 21st | $43,770 | $45,455 17th |
| Florida | ||
| 22nd | $42,640 | $41,232 36th |
| Wisconsin | ||
| 23rd | $42,060 | $44,700 19th |
| Nebraska | ||
| 24th | $41,920 | $46,525 14th |
| Texas | ||
| 25th | $41,280 | $42,532 25th |
| New Jersey | ||
| 26th | $40,520 | $37,241 45th |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| 26th | $40,520 | $41,528 33rd |
| Montana | ||
| 28th | $39,900 | $42,158 27th |
| Wyoming | ||
| 29th | $39,330 | $42,431 26th |
| Alaska | ||
| 30th | $39,190 | $38,287 42nd |
| Missouri | ||
| 31st | $39,170 | $43,131 23rd |
| Ohio | ||
| 32nd | $38,470 | $41,466 34th |
| Iowa | ||
| 33rd | $38,290 | $43,629 21st |
| Tennessee | ||
| 34th | $37,950 | $41,308 35th |
| South Carolina | ||
| 35th | $37,890 | $40,416 38th |
| Kansas | ||
| 36th | $37,790 | $41,957 29th |
| Nevada | ||
| 37th | $37,460 | $37,468 44th |
| North Dakota | ||
| 38th | $37,410 | $42,053 28th |
| Rhode Island | ||
| 39th | $37,300 | $36,469 48th |
| North Carolina | ||
| 40th | $37,120 | $39,353 40th |
| Arizona | ||
| 41st | $36,970 | $36,721 46th |
| Louisiana | ||
| 42nd | $36,830 | $41,754 32nd |
| Oklahoma | ||
| 43rd | $36,750 | $41,836 30th |
| Illinois | ||
| 44th | $36,570 | $36,585 47th |
| Alabama | ||
| 45th | $36,130 | $40,676 37th |
| West Virginia | ||
| 46th | $36,110 | $40,348 39th |
| Indiana | ||
| 47th | $35,960 | $38,530 41st |
| Idaho | ||
| 48th | $33,320 | $34,892 49th |
| Arkansas | ||
| 49th | $32,810 | $37,740 43rd |
Places with the same median share a rank and are listed alphabetically.
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Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in the U.S.
$55,490/year U.S.
- Graphic Designer salary in the U.S.
$62,960/year U.S.
- Special Effects Artist and Animator salary in the U.S.
$102,030/year U.S.
- Art Director salary in the U.S.
$114,850/year U.S.
- Prepress Technician and Worker salary in the U.S.
$48,690/year U.S.
- Craft Artist salary in the U.S.
$46,080/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- −0.7%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- High school diploma or equivalent
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Last updated