Photographer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level photographer earnings begin at:

$33.24 per hour

$69,130 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level photographer earnings begin at:

$28.92 per hour

$60,160 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level photographer earnings begin at:

$21.70 per hour

$45,140 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level photographer earnings begin at:

$15.77 per hour

$32,790 per year

10th percentile

Starting level photographer earnings begin at:

$13.75 per hour

$28,590 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Photographer salary by state

State Name Average Salary
District of Columbia $80,110
Connecticut $61,420
Georgia $57,090
Washington $50,000
New Hampshire $49,480
Vermont $49,060
North Dakota $48,880
New York $48,820
Oregon $48,560
Minnesota $48,270
Massachusetts $48,230
Delaware $48,210
California $46,630
Illinois $45,140
Utah $44,860
Maryland $44,300
New Jersey $42,790
Pennsylvania $40,520
Mississippi $39,520
Hawaii $38,980
Wyoming $38,950
Virginia $38,850
Alaska $38,760
Colorado $38,640
South Carolina $38,640
Rhode Island $38,310
Maine $38,220
Michigan $37,930
Alabama $37,630
Florida $37,540
South Dakota $37,390
Louisiana $37,350
Idaho $37,190
Indiana $36,860
Montana $36,750
North Carolina $36,750
Ohio $36,280
Iowa $35,910
Wisconsin $35,740
Texas $34,380
Kentucky $34,260
Kansas $33,610
Missouri $32,810
Nebraska $31,210
Oklahoma $31,120
Arizona $30,690
Nevada $30,220
Puerto Rico $30,070
New Mexico $29,930
Tennessee $29,930
Arkansas $29,900
West Virginia $29,760

How do photographer salaries compare to similar careers?

Photographers earn about the same as related careers in Illinois. On average, they make less than art therapists but more than jewelers.

Career Median Salary
Art therapist salary $58K
Painter salary $53K
Graphic designer salary $50K
Exhibit designer salary $53K
Camera operator salary $49K
Photographer salary $45K
Museum conservator salary $48K
Craft artist salary $48K
Precious metal worker salary $38K
Jeweler salary $38K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)