How much does a photographer make in San Diego?
$44,030a year
Median yearly pay for photographers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $21.17 an hour or $3,669 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.17
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 73 of 175
- Jobs in the area
- 620
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,670Median: $44,030Highest 10%: $74,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,670 | $17.63 | |
| 25th | $36,860 | $17.72 | |
| Median | $44,030 | $21.17 | |
| 75th | $60,980 | $29.32 | |
| 90th | $74,500 | $35.82 |
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 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $47,840 |
| Sacramento, CA | $45,880 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,240 |
| Oxnard, CA | $43,870 |
| Riverside, CA | $43,710 |
| Vallejo, CA | $43,040 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,520 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $126,100 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $123,200 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $118,800 |
| Musician and Singer | $106,400 |
| Technical Writer | $101,800 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $99,650 |
| Producer and Director | $99,520 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $85,180 |
| Film and Video Editor | $83,480 |
| Writer and Author | $82,590 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $21.17 ($44,030 a year).
Do photographers make more in San Diego than the national average?
No: $44,030 against $44,660 nationally, 1% less.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $47,840, so San Diego pays 8% less.
Where does San Diego rank for photographer pay?
73 of 175 metro areas with data.
How much does a photographer make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,670 or less a year; the top 10% make $74,500 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.