Photographer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level photographer earnings begin at:

$46.88 per hour

$97,500 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level photographer earnings begin at:

$36.51 per hour

$75,940 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level photographer earnings begin at:

$23.47 per hour

$48,820 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level photographer earnings begin at:

$18.58 per hour

$38,650 per year

10th percentile

Starting level photographer earnings begin at:

$15.12 per hour

$31,440 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 10% less than similar careers in New York. On average, they make less than calligraphers but more than precious metal workers.

Career Median Salary
Calligrapher salary $73K
Industrial designer salary $78K
Exhibit designer salary $79K
Graphic designer salary $64K
Museum conservator salary $63K
Photographer salary $49K
Painter salary $56K
Art therapist salary $60K
Jeweler salary $48K
Precious metal worker salary $48K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)