Photographers salary
Photographers earn a median of $44,660 a year ($21.47/hr) in the U.S. – from $32,810 in Arkansas to $110,970 in District of Columbia. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$21.47/hr · $44,660 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$30,820$14.82/hr
75% earn more$36,050$17.33/hr
half earn more, half less$44,660$21.47/hr
25% earn more$62,740$30.16/hr
top 10% earn more$91,810$44.14/hr
pulled up by top earners$55,410$26.64/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among photographers. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for photographers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
260 jobs · $53.35/hr$110,970
3,650 jobs · $28.87/hr$60,050
830 jobs · $27.88/hr$57,990
510 jobs · $25.78/hr$53,630
660 jobs · $25.07/hr$52,140
180 jobs · $24.09/hr$50,100
630 jobs · $23.94/hr$49,790
230 jobs · $23.12/hr$48,090
960 jobs · $23.10/hr$48,050
7,980 jobs · $23.00/hr$47,840
380 jobs · $22.68/hr$47,170
1,140 jobs · $22.63/hr$47,070
180 jobs · $22.44/hr$46,680
1,580 jobs · $22.38/hr$46,550
730 jobs · $22.34/hr$46,470
790 jobs · $22.33/hr$46,450
440 jobs · $22.10/hr$45,960
190 jobs · $22.05/hr$45,860
190 jobs · $21.79/hr$45,330
220 jobs · $21.53/hr$44,780
1,420 jobs · $21.04/hr$43,770
4,390 jobs · $20.50/hr$42,640
850 jobs · $20.22/hr$42,060
220 jobs · $20.15/hr$41,920
4,330 jobs · $19.85/hr$41,280
1,460 jobs · $19.48/hr$40,520
1,870 jobs · $19.48/hr$40,520
190 jobs · $19.18/hr$39,900
50 jobs · $18.91/hr$39,330
50 jobs · $18.84/hr$39,190
950 jobs · $18.83/hr$39,170
1,540 jobs · $18.50/hr$38,470
430 jobs · $18.41/hr$38,290
780 jobs · $18.25/hr$37,950
630 jobs · $18.22/hr$37,890
300 jobs · $18.17/hr$37,790
890 jobs · $18.01/hr$37,460
70 jobs · $17.99/hr$37,410
220 jobs · $17.93/hr$37,300
2,130 jobs · $17.84/hr$37,120
1,360 jobs · $17.77/hr$36,970
510 jobs · $17.71/hr$36,830
330 jobs · $17.67/hr$36,750
2,150 jobs · $17.58/hr$36,570
530 jobs · $17.37/hr$36,130
110 jobs · $17.36/hr$36,110
810 jobs · $17.29/hr$35,960
90 jobs · $16.37/hr$34,060
190 jobs · $16.02/hr$33,320
240 jobs · $15.78/hr$32,810
No wage estimate published for: Michigan, Vermont.
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 27-4021. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do photographers make?
The median wage for photographers in the U.S. was $21.47 an hour or $44,660 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $36,050 and $62,740 a year.
Which state pays photographers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for photographers: $110,970 a year. The lowest published median is in Arkansas at $32,810. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many photographers are there?
BLS estimates 51,760 photographers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.