How much does a photographer make in Des Moines?
$42,080a year
Median yearly pay for photographers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $20.23 an hour or $3,507 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.23
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 96 of 175
- Jobs in the area
- 170
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,360Median: $42,080Highest 10%: $78,920
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,360 | $10.27 | |
| 25th | $25,550 | $12.28 | |
| Median | $42,080 | $20.23 | |
| 75th | $63,990 | $30.76 | |
| 90th | $78,920 | $37.94 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for photographers.
| Omaha, NE | $45,160 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $37,190 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $90,000 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $82,040 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $77,570 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $70,660 |
| Technical Writer | $69,450 |
| Editor | $63,720 |
| Writer and Author | $63,010 |
| Producer and Director | $62,370 |
| Music Director and Composer | $61,740 |
| Interior Designer | $57,840 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $20.23 ($42,080 a year).
Do photographers make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $42,080 against $44,660 nationally, 6% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $38,290, so Des Moines pays 10% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for photographer pay?
96 of 175 metro areas with data.
How much does a photographer make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,360 or less a year; the top 10% make $78,920 or more.
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.