How much does a photographer make in Los Angeles?
$47,840a year
Median yearly pay for photographers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $23.00 an hour or $3,987 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.00
- Vs. national median
- +7%
- Rank among cities
- 40 of 175
- Jobs in the area
- 4,290
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,460Median: $47,840Highest 10%: $133,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,460 | $17.53 | |
| 25th | $38,410 | $18.47 | |
| Median | $47,840 | $23.00 | |
| 75th | $79,060 | $38.01 | |
| 90th | $133,100 | $63.99 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for photographers.
| San Francisco, CA | $58,840 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $56,220 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $55,220 |
| San Jose, CA | $52,470 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $50,500 |
| Sacramento, CA | $45,880 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,240 |
| San Diego, CA | $44,030 |
| Oxnard, CA | $43,870 |
| Riverside, CA | $43,710 |
| Vallejo, CA | $43,040 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,520 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $137,600 |
| Producer and Director | $131,600 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $124,600 |
| Actor | $115,000 |
| Musician and Singer | $110,600 |
| Camera Operator | $107,600 |
| Set and Exhibit Designer | $106,900 |
| Lighting Technician | $105,000 |
| Technical Writer | $104,000 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $103,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $23.00 ($47,840 a year).
Do photographers make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $47,840 against $44,660 nationally, 7% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $47,840, so Los Angeles pays 0% more.
Where does Los Angeles rank for photographer pay?
40 of 175 metro areas with data.
How much does a photographer make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,460 or less a year; the top 10% make $133,100 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.