SOC 274021

Photographers

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. Excludes "Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film" (27-4031).

National Median

$42,520

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$42,520

Entry Level (10th pct)

$29,610

Experienced (90th pct)

$94,760

Total Employed

51,230

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$29,610 - $34,790
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$34,790 - $62,370
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$62,370 - $94,760

Highest Paying Locations for Photographers

District of Columbia

$110,530

+159.9% vs national

Rochester, MN

$78,870

+85.5% vs national

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$75,070

+76.6% vs national

Bend, OR

$72,760

+71.1% vs national

Springfield, MA

$64,880

+52.6% vs national

Photographers Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
District of Columbia	$110,530	270
Rochester, MN	$78,870	30
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$75,070	980
Bend, OR	$72,760	30
Springfield, MA	$64,880	70
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$63,340	870
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$60,910	50
Massachusetts	$60,610	1,170
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$60,270	370
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$60,270	3,690
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$60,250	3,550
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$57,800	150
New York	$57,700	3,620
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$57,550	70
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$57,110	90
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$56,340	870
Salem, OR	$56,190	30
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$55,900	40
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$55,840	420
Oregon	$55,640	570
Minnesota	$54,650	530
Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area	$53,950	N/A
Baton Rouge, LA	$53,770	100
Montgomery, AL	$53,640	30
New Jersey	$50,760	1,280
California	$50,610	7,300
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$50,590	60
Springfield, MO	$50,380	80
Delaware	$50,040	250
Dover, DE	$50,040	30
New Haven, CT	$49,920	80
Rhode Island	$49,770	160
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$49,770	180
Louisiana	$49,740	410
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$49,570	370
Worcester, MA	$48,880	100
Tucson, AZ	$48,530	80
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$48,470	40
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$48,340	80
Lafayette, LA	$48,320	30
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$48,290	140
Connecticut	$48,260	490
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area	$48,250	60
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$48,250	30
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$48,190	40
New Hampshire	$48,180	180
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$48,110	820
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$47,980	120
Vallejo, CA	$47,740	70
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$47,720	1,140

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Photographers?

The national median annual salary for Photographers is $42,520, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Photographerss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Photographerss is District of Columbia, with a median salary of $110,530.

How much can an experienced Photographers make?

Top-earning Photographerss (90th percentile) make $94,760 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.