How much does a photographer make in San Jose?
$52,470a year
Median yearly pay for photographers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $25.23 an hour or $4,373 a month.
- Hourly
- $25.23
- Vs. national median
- +17%
- Rank among cities
- 17 of 175
- Jobs in the area
- 210
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,610Median: $52,470Highest 10%: $127,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,610 | $19.52 | |
| 25th | $42,760 | $20.56 | |
| Median | $52,470 | $25.23 | |
| 75th | $80,950 | $38.92 | |
| 90th | $127,600 | $61.33 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for photographers.
| San Francisco, CA | $58,840 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $56,220 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $55,220 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $170,100 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $157,000 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $143,200 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $141,300 |
| Technical Writer | $140,700 |
| Designer | $129,100 |
| Writer and Author | $118,800 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $117,600 |
| Editor | $117,600 |
| Musician and Singer | $102,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $25.23 ($52,470 a year).
Do photographers make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $52,470 against $44,660 nationally, 17% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $47,840, so San Jose pays 10% more.
Where does San Jose rank for photographer pay?
17 of 175 metro areas with data.
How much does a photographer make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,610 or less a year; the top 10% make $127,600 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.