Photographer salary in the U.S.
Photographers in the U.S. earn a median of $44,660 a year ($21.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 51,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,810 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $55,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for photographers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,820 | $14.82 |
| 25th percentile | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Median | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| 75th percentile | $62,740 | $30.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,810 | $44.14 |
| Average (mean) | $55,410 | $26.64 |
Half of photographers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,721.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,860.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,717.69 |
| Weekly | $858.85 |
| Hourly | $21.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Photographer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Kentucky | $47,170 | 380 |
| Colorado | $47,070 | 1,140 |
| Maine | $46,680 | 180 |
| Virginia | $46,550 | 1,580 |
| Minnesota | $46,470 | 730 |
| Maryland | $46,450 | 790 |
| Hawaii | $45,960 | 440 |
| Mississippi | $45,860 | 190 |
| South Dakota | $45,330 | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $44,780 | 220 |
| Georgia | $43,770 | 1,420 |
| Florida | $42,640 | 4,390 |
| Wisconsin | $42,060 | 850 |
| Nebraska | $41,920 | 220 |
| Texas | $41,280 | 4,330 |
| New Jersey | $40,520 | 1,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,520 | 1,870 |
| Montana | $39,900 | 190 |
| Wyoming | $39,330 | 50 |
| Alaska | $39,190 | 50 |
| Missouri | $39,170 | 950 |
| Ohio | $38,470 | 1,540 |
| Iowa | $38,290 | 430 |
| Tennessee | $37,950 | 780 |
| South Carolina | $37,890 | 630 |
| Kansas | $37,790 | 300 |
| Nevada | $37,460 | 890 |
| North Dakota | $37,410 | 70 |
| Rhode Island | $37,300 | 220 |
| North Carolina | $37,120 | 2,130 |
| Arizona | $36,970 | 1,360 |
| Louisiana | $36,830 | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $36,750 | 330 |
| Illinois | $36,570 | 2,150 |
| Alabama | $36,130 | 530 |
| West Virginia | $36,110 | 110 |
| Indiana | $35,960 | 810 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,060 | 90 |
| Idaho | $33,320 | 190 |
| Arkansas | $32,810 | 240 |
Best-paying metro areas for photographers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | $65,990 | 30 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $62,550 | 70 |
| Boulder, CO | $60,930 | 60 |
| Springfield, MA | $60,430 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,050 | 3,590 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $60,000 | 280 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,220 | 350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,840 | 880 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $58,050 | 150 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $56,890 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $56,220 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,220 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $55,020 | 670 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $54,530 | 1,060 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $54,260 | 160 |
Metro areas with the most photographers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,290 | $47,840 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,590 | $60,050 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,590 | $36,810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,480 | $43,970 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,470 | $49,980 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,140 | $36,970 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,060 | $54,530 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 980 | $34,860 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 950 | $43,750 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 930 | $48,670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 880 | $58,840 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 800 | $41,280 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 770 | $36,880 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 690 | $36,810 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 670 | $55,020 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Film and Video Editors | $75,420 | $36.26 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Broadcast Technician | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $70,720 | $34.00 |
| Lighting Technician | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-4021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for photographers in the U.S. is $44,660 a year, or $21.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid photographers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of photographers in the U.S. earn at least $91,810 a year. The top 25% earn $62,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for photographers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,820 a year, and a quarter of photographers earn $36,050 or less.
How many photographers work in the U.S.?
About 51,760 photographers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.