Photographers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for photographers in the U.S. is $44,660 ($21.47 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $44,660
- Mean annual wage
- $55,410
- Median hourly wage
- $21.47
- Employment
- 51,760
51,760 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,820 | $14.82 |
| 25th percentile | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Median (50th) | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| 75th percentile | $62,740 | $30.16 |
| 90th percentile | $91,810 | $44.14 |
Highest-paying states for photographers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | 260 |
| New York | $60,050 | 3,650 |
| Massachusetts | $57,990 | 830 |
| Oregon | $53,630 | 510 |
| Utah | $52,140 | 660 |
| Delaware | $50,100 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $49,790 | 630 |
| New Mexico | $48,090 | 230 |
| Washington | $48,050 | 960 |
| California | $47,840 | 7,980 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $32,810 median annual wage
- Idaho: $33,320 median annual wage
- Indiana: $35,960 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $36,110 median annual wage
- Alabama: $36,130 median annual wage
About this occupation
Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.
Typical tasks
- Direct activities of workers setting up photographic equipment.
- Develop and print exposed film, using chemicals, touch-up tools, and developing and printing equipment.
- Produce computer-readable, digital images from film, using flatbed scanners and photofinishing laboratories.
- Select and assemble equipment and required background properties, according to subjects, materials, and conditions.
- Perform general office duties, such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies.
- Review sets of photographs to select the best work.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.0% |
| Some college, no degree | 21.5% |
| Associate's degree | 11.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 43.2% |
| Master's degree | 8.9% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.0% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Public Relations Specialists$74,750
- Coaches and Scouts$47,320
- Graphic Designers$62,960
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,390
- Producers and Directors$90,360
- Editors$77,920
- Interior Designers$67,190
- Audio and Video Technicians$58,100
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.