SOC 27-4021 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Photographers

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$44,660

U.S. median hourly wage$21.47

U.S. employment51,760

Nationally, photographers earned a median of $44,660 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 51,760 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Photographers: pay and employment by state
State
District of Columbia	$110,970	$53.35	260	0.4
New York	$60,050	$28.87	3,650	0.4
Massachusetts	$57,990	$27.88	830	0.2
Oregon	$53,630	$25.78	510	0.3
Utah	$52,140	$25.07	660	0.4
Delaware	$50,100	$24.09	180	0.4
Connecticut	$49,790	$23.94	630	0.4
New Mexico	$48,090	$23.12	230	0.3
Washington	$48,050	$23.10	960	0.3
California	$47,840	$23.00	7,980	0.4
Kentucky	$47,170	$22.68	380	0.2
Colorado	$47,070	$22.63	1,140	0.4
Maine	$46,680	$22.44	180	0.3
Virginia	$46,550	$22.38	1,580	0.4
Minnesota	$46,470	$22.34	730	0.2
Maryland	$46,450	$22.33	790	0.3
Hawaii	$45,960	$22.10	440	0.7
Mississippi	$45,860	$22.05	190	0.2
South Dakota	$45,330	$21.79	190	0.4
New Hampshire	$44,780	$21.53	220	0.3
Georgia	$43,770	$21.04	1,420	0.3
Florida	$42,640	$20.50	4,390	0.4
Wisconsin	$42,060	$20.22	850	0.3
Nebraska	$41,920	$20.15	220	0.2
Texas	$41,280	$19.85	4,330	0.3
New Jersey	$40,520	$19.48	1,460	0.3
Pennsylvania	$40,520	$19.48	1,870	0.3
Montana	$39,900	$19.18	190	0.4
Wyoming	$39,330	$18.91	50	0.2
Alaska	$39,190	$18.84	50	0.2
Missouri	$39,170	$18.83	950	0.3
Ohio	$38,470	$18.50	1,540	0.3
Iowa	$38,290	$18.41	430	0.3
Tennessee	$37,950	$18.25	780	0.2
South Carolina	$37,890	$18.22	630	0.3
Kansas	$37,790	$18.17	300	0.2
Nevada	$37,460	$18.01	890	0.6
North Dakota	$37,410	$17.99	70	0.2
Rhode Island	$37,300	$17.93	220	0.4
North Carolina	$37,120	$17.84	2,130	0.4
Arizona	$36,970	$17.77	1,360	0.4
Louisiana	$36,830	$17.71	510	0.3
Oklahoma	$36,750	$17.67	330	0.2
Illinois	$36,570	$17.58	2,150	0.4
Alabama	$36,130	$17.37	530	0.3
West Virginia	$36,110	$17.36	110	0.2
Indiana	$35,960	$17.29	810	0.3
Puerto Rico	$34,060	$16.37	90	0.1
Idaho	$33,320	$16.02	190	0.2
Arkansas	$32,810	$15.78	240	0.2
Michigan	Not published	Not published	970	0.2
Vermont	Not published	Not published	60	0.2

Pay by metro area

All 182 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

Filter metro area

Photographers: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Bend, OR	$65,990	$31.73	30	0.3
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$62,550	$30.07	70	0.4
Boulder, CO	$60,930	$29.29	60	0.3
Springfield, MA	$60,430	$29.06	40	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$60,050	$28.87	3,590	0.4
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$60,000	$28.85	280	0.3
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$59,220	$28.47	350	0.3
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$58,840	$28.29	880	0.4
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$58,050	$27.91	150	0.6
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$56,890	$27.35	100	0.2
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$56,220	$27.03	60	0.2
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$55,220	$26.55	60	0.3
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$55,020	$26.45	670	0.2
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$54,530	$26.22	1,060	0.3
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$54,260	$26.09	160	0.4
Springfield, MO	$52,510	$25.24	80	0.4
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$52,470	$25.22	210	0.2
Montgomery, AL	$52,160	$25.08	30	0.2
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$51,870	$24.94	100	1.3
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$51,790	$24.90	550	0.3
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$51,410	$24.72	160	0.3
New Haven, CT	$51,000	$24.52	100	0.4
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$50,940	$24.49	130	0.3
Santa Fe, NM	$50,670	$24.36	40	0.6
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$50,620	$24.34	40	0.2
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$50,500	$24.28	60	0.3
Worcester, MA	$50,170	$24.12	60	0.2
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$50,060	$24.07	240	0.3
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$50,000	$24.04	150	0.2
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$49,980	$24.03	1,470	0.5
Naples-Marco Island, FL	$49,760	$23.92	40	0.2
Syracuse, NY	$49,560	$23.83	80	0.3
Savannah, GA	$49,110	$23.61	70	0.3
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$48,790	$23.46	40	0.3
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$48,670	$23.40	930	0.3
Reno, NV	$48,670	$23.40	80	0.3
Albuquerque, NM	$48,090	$23.12	100	0.2
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	$47,920	$23.04	40	0.2
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$47,870	$23.02	40	0.2
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$47,840	$23.00	4,290	0.7
Portland-South Portland, ME	$47,720	$22.94	120	0.4
Jackson, MS	$47,500	$22.84	60	0.2
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$47,340	$22.76	620	0.4
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	$47,300	$22.74	30	0.4
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$47,170	$22.68	60	0.2
Anchorage, AK	$47,040	$22.61	40	0.2
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$46,960	$22.58	520	0.3
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$46,880	$22.54	70	0.5
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$46,620	$22.41	40	0.1
Jacksonville, FL	$46,540	$22.38	380	0.5
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$46,540	$22.37	50	0.3
Richmond, VA	$46,420	$22.32	270	0.4
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	$46,410	$22.31	40	0.4
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$46,270	$22.25	70	0.3
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$46,170	$22.20	480	0.4
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$45,880	$22.06	290	0.3
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$45,760	$22.00	80	0.4
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$45,690	$21.97	170	0.7
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$45,380	$21.82	210	0.7
Urban Honolulu, HI	$45,300	$21.78	280	0.6
Omaha, NE-IA	$45,160	$21.71	100	0.2
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	$45,040	$21.65	30	0.3
Corpus Christi, TX	$45,000	$21.64	50	0.3
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$44,990	$21.63	180	0.5
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$44,940	$21.61	300	0.4
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$44,840	$21.56	30	0.2
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$44,530	$21.41	450	0.3
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$44,480	$21.38	240	0.2
Waco, TX	$44,300	$21.30	30	0.2
Charlottesville, VA	$44,290	$21.29	60	0.5
Modesto, CA	$44,240	$21.27	50	0.3
Lubbock, TX	$44,230	$21.26	40	0.3
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$44,030	$21.17	620	0.4
Bozeman, MT	$44,020	$21.16	60	0.8
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$43,970	$21.14	1,480	0.4
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$43,940	$21.13	40	0.2
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$43,870	$21.09	90	0.3
Kansas City, MO-KS	$43,750	$21.03	280	0.3
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$43,750	$21.04	950	0.3
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$43,710	$21.02	460	0.3
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$43,550	$20.94	40	0.3
Tucson, AZ	$43,360	$20.85	60	0.2
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$43,100	$20.72	30	0.2
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$43,060	$20.70	60	0.2
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$43,040	$20.69	290	0.3
Madison, WI	$43,040	$20.69	160	0.4
Vallejo, CA	$43,040	$20.69	110	0.7
Kingston, NY	$42,960	$20.65	30	0.5
Bowling Green, KY	$42,540	$20.45	30	0.4
Pittsburgh, PA	$42,530	$20.45	290	0.3
Reading, PA	$42,430	$20.40	40	0.2
Rochester, NY	$42,260	$20.32	120	0.2
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$42,210	$20.29	210	0.3
Colorado Springs, CO	$42,110	$20.24	120	0.4
Cleveland, OH	$42,090	$20.24	290	0.3
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$42,080	$20.23	170	0.4
Greeley, CO	$42,020	$20.20	40	0.4
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$41,840	$20.12	40	0.3
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	$41,750	$20.07	40	0.4
Baton Rouge, LA	$41,690	$20.04	100	0.2
Columbus, OH	$41,390	$19.90	310	0.3
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$41,280	$19.85	800	0.2
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$41,130	$19.78	300	0.4
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$41,020	$19.72	30	0.1
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$40,910	$19.67	40	0.3
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$40,580	$19.51	130	0.4
York-Hanover, PA	$40,240	$19.35	40	0.2
Rapid City, SD	$39,780	$19.13	30	0.4
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$39,730	$19.10	120	0.3
Roanoke, VA	$39,710	$19.09	50	0.3
Lincoln, NE	$39,540	$19.01	50	0.3
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$39,260	$18.87	50	0.2
Oklahoma City, OK	$39,200	$18.84	150	0.2
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$39,190	$18.84	140	0.3
St. Louis, MO-IL	$39,170	$18.83	420	0.3
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$38,970	$18.74	540	0.4
Winston-Salem, NC	$38,840	$18.67	120	0.4
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$38,510	$18.51	110	0.2
Birmingham, AL	$38,390	$18.46	130	0.3
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$38,320	$18.43	80	0.3
Fargo, ND-MN	$38,210	$18.37	50	0.4
Green Bay, WI	$38,080	$18.31	80	0.5
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$38,010	$18.28	30	0.2
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$37,780	$18.16	330	0.3
Wilmington, NC	$37,690	$18.12	80	0.4
Lancaster, PA	$37,600	$18.08	120	0.5
Fresno, CA	$37,520	$18.04	140	0.3
Ann Arbor, MI	$37,510	$18.04	70	0.3
Mobile, AL	$37,490	$18.02	40	0.2
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$37,360	$17.96	80	0.1
Cedar Rapids, IA	$37,190	$17.88	50	0.4
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$37,040	$17.81	230	0.2
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$36,970	$17.77	1,140	0.5
Spartanburg, SC	$36,950	$17.77	40	0.3
Fort Wayne, IN	$36,900	$17.74	100	0.4
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$36,880	$17.73	770	0.7
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$36,810	$17.70	690	0.5
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$36,810	$17.70	1,590	0.4
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$36,790	$17.69	130	0.3
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$36,670	$17.63	210	0.6
El Paso, TX	$36,650	$17.62	80	0.2
Canton-Massillon, OH	$36,580	$17.59	60	0.3
Billings, MT	$36,360	$17.48	30	0.3
Rockford, IL	$36,360	$17.48	40	0.3
Wichita, KS	$36,300	$17.45	50	0.2
Knoxville, TN	$36,240	$17.43	100	0.2
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$36,180	$17.40	130	0.4
Akron, OH	$36,100	$17.35	80	0.3
Port St. Lucie, FL	$36,090	$17.35	60	0.3
Columbia, SC	$36,060	$17.34	120	0.3
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$35,920	$17.27	40	0.3
Toledo, OH	$35,810	$17.22	80	0.3
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$35,630	$17.13	70	0.3
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$35,610	$17.12	90	0.2
Gainesville, FL	$35,550	$17.09	30	0.2
Peoria, IL	$35,510	$17.07	50	0.3
Evansville, IN	$35,420	$17.03	50	0.3
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	$35,410	$17.03	50	0.4
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$35,400	$17.02	170	0.4
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$35,380	$17.01	80	0.3
Asheville, NC	$35,120	$16.88	160	0.9
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	$34,950	$16.81	70	0.5
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$34,860	$16.76	980	0.7
Fayetteville, NC	$34,560	$16.61	30	0.2
Tyler, TX	$34,130	$16.41	50	0.4
Flagstaff, AZ	$34,010	$16.35	40	0.6
Tallahassee, FL	$34,010	$16.35	100	0.5
Ogden, UT	$33,860	$16.28	150	0.6
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$33,600	$16.15	50	0.2
Boise City, ID	$33,320	$16.02	130	0.3
Killeen-Temple, TX	$32,780	$15.76	Not published	Not published
Huntsville, AL	$31,200	$15.00	90	0.3
Lafayette, LA	$30,450	$14.64	50	0.3
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$28,110	$13.51	70	0.3
Chambersburg, PA	$26,640	$12.81	Not published	Not published
Athens-Clarke County, GA	Not published	Not published	40	0.4
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	Not published	Not published	30	0.3
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	Not published	Not published	430	0.2
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	Not published	Not published	120	0.2
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	Not published	Not published	200	0.4
Rochester, MN	Not published	Not published	30	0.3
Tulsa, OK	Not published	Not published	100	0.2

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.