How much does a photographer make in San Francisco?
$58,840a year
Median yearly pay for photographers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $28.29 an hour or $4,903 a month.
- Hourly
- $28.29
- Vs. national median
- +32%
- Rank among cities
- 8 of 175
- Jobs in the area
- 880
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $41,250Median: $58,840Highest 10%: $119,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,250 | $19.83 | |
| 25th | $46,800 | $22.50 | |
| Median | $58,840 | $28.29 | |
| 75th | $81,270 | $39.07 | |
| 90th | $119,300 | $57.35 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for photographers.
| 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 |
| San Diego, CA | $44,030 |
| Oxnard, CA | $43,870 |
| Riverside, CA | $43,710 |
| Vallejo, CA | $43,040 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,520 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $165,200 |
| Musician and Singer | $157,600 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $136,800 |
| Technical Writer | $135,500 |
| Producer and Director | $130,600 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $129,300 |
| Fine Artist | $126,500 |
| Music Director and Composer | $113,000 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Worker | $110,800 |
| Film and Video Editor | $109,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $28.29 ($58,840 a year).
Do photographers make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $58,840 against $44,660 nationally, 32% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $47,840, so San Francisco pays 23% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for photographer pay?
8 of 175 metro areas with data.
How much does a photographer make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $41,250 or less a year; the top 10% make $119,300 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.