How much does a photographer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $21.47 an hour or $3,722 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.47
- Average (mean)
- $55,410
- Jobs
- 51,760
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,820 | $14.82 | |
| 25th | $36,050 | $17.33 | |
| Median | $44,660 | $21.47 | |
| 75th | $62,740 | $30.16 | |
| 90th | $91,810 | $44.14 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $111,000 |
| New York | $60,050 |
| Massachusetts | $57,990 |
| Oregon | $53,630 |
| Utah | $52,140 |
| Delaware | $50,100 |
| Connecticut | $49,790 |
| New Mexico | $48,090 |
| Washington | $48,050 |
| California | $47,840 |
| Kentucky | $47,170 |
| Colorado | $47,070 |
| Maine | $46,680 |
| Virginia | $46,550 |
| Minnesota | $46,470 |
| Maryland | $46,450 |
| Hawaii | $45,960 |
| Mississippi | $45,860 |
| South Dakota | $45,330 |
| New Hampshire | $44,780 |
| Georgia | $43,770 |
| Florida | $42,640 |
| Wisconsin | $42,060 |
| Nebraska | $41,920 |
| Texas | $41,280 |
| New Jersey | $40,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,520 |
| Montana | $39,900 |
| Wyoming | $39,330 |
| Alaska | $39,190 |
| Missouri | $39,170 |
| Ohio | $38,470 |
| Iowa | $38,290 |
| Tennessee | $37,950 |
| South Carolina | $37,890 |
| Kansas | $37,790 |
| Nevada | $37,460 |
| North Dakota | $37,410 |
| Rhode Island | $37,300 |
| North Carolina | $37,120 |
| Arizona | $36,970 |
| Louisiana | $36,830 |
| Oklahoma | $36,750 |
| Illinois | $36,570 |
| Alabama | $36,130 |
| West Virginia | $36,110 |
| Indiana | $35,960 |
| Idaho | $33,320 |
| Arkansas | $32,810 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Bend, OR | $65,990 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $62,550 |
| Boulder, CO | $60,930 |
| Springfield, MA | $60,430 |
| New York, NY | $60,050 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $60,000 |
| Portland, OR | $59,220 |
| San Francisco, CA | $58,840 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $58,050 |
| Charleston, SC | $56,890 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $56,220 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $55,220 |
| Boston, MA | $55,020 |
| Washington, DC | $54,530 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $54,260 |
In other countries
Photographer belongs to the international group "Photographers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Audio and Video Technician$58,100
- Broadcast Technician$59,570
- Sound Engineering Technician$73,130
- Lighting Technician$68,060
- Camera Operator$74,990
- Film and Video Editor$75,420
- Media and Communication Equipment Worker$70,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $21.47 ($44,660 a year).
How much does a photographer make a month?
About $3,722 a month before tax, based on a median of $44,660 a year.
How much does a photographer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,820 or less a year ($14.82 an hour); the top 10% make $91,810 or more.
Which state pays photographers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $111,000 a year, followed by New York ($60,050) and Massachusetts ($57,990).
Which city pays photographers the most?
Bend, OR, with a median of $65,990 a year.
How many photographers are there in the United States?
About 51,760 people work as photographers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.