Photographers Salary
The median photographers salary in the United States is $44,660 per year ($21.47/hour). Salaries range from $30,820 at the entry level to $91,810+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 51,760 photographers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.8% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$44,660
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.47
per hour
Employment
51,760
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$30,820
25th percentile
$36,050
Median
$44,660
75th percentile
$62,740
90th percentile
$91,810
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+1.8%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
12,700
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photographers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$33K$111K■ No data
Top Paying States
District of Columbia
$111K
+148%
New York
$60K
+34%
Massachusetts
$58K
+30%
Oregon
$54K
+20%
Utah
$52K
+17%
Delaware
$50K
+12%
Connecticut
$50K
+11%
New Mexico
$48K
+8%
Washington
$48K
+8%
California
$48K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | +148.5% |
| New York | $60,050 | +34.5% |
| Massachusetts | $57,990 | +29.8% |
| Oregon | $53,630 | +20.1% |
| Utah | $52,140 | +16.7% |
| Delaware | $50,100 | +12.2% |
| Connecticut | $49,790 | +11.5% |
| New Mexico | $48,090 | +7.7% |
| Washington | $48,050 | +7.6% |
| California | $47,840 | +7.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 49
Photographers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | $65,990 | +47.8% |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $62,550 | +40.1% |
| Boulder, CO | $60,930 | +36.4% |
| Springfield, MA | $60,430 | +35.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,050 | +34.5% |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $60,000 | +34.3% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,220 | +32.6% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,840 | +31.8% |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $58,050 | +30.0% |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $56,890 | +27.4% |
Showing 1–10 of 176
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A photographers earning $44,660/year would need 1335 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1433 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how photographers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Photographers salary trend (2011–2024) →