The median pay for Photographers is $44,660 a year ($21.47/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 0.7% through 2035, with about 10,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 27-4021
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Photographer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $44,660a year, or $21.47/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $31KTop 10% $92K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -0.7%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−0.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −0.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 10,700145,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025145K
- Projected 2035144K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 145K Projected 2035 144K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school9.1%
- High school18.2%
- Certificate13.6%
- Some college27.3%
- Associate's13.6%
- Bachelor's13.6%
Highest education held by photographers Segment Value Less than high school 9.1% High school 18.2% Certificate 13.6% Some college 27.3% Associate's 13.6% Bachelor's 13.6%
Also advertised as: Advertising Photographer, Commercial Photographer, Graduation Photographer, Newspaper Photographer, Photo Editor, Photographer.
Pay
How much do Photographers make?
Every photographer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$44,660
Middle half earn $36,050 to $62,740
- 10th
- $30,820
- 25th
- $36,050
- 75th
- $62,740
- 90th
- $91,810
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $30,820 |
| 25th | $36,050 |
| Median | $44,660 |
| 75th | $62,740 |
| 90th | $91,810 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $44,660
- Median hourly wage
- $21.47/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $55,410
- People employed
- 51,760
Versus all US occupations
At $44,660, Photographers earn 12% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,320 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 34% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $91,810 or more while the bottom 10% earn $30,820, a gap of 3.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 11% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $110,970, and still leads at $100,973 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Photographers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $110,970 | $100,973 | 260 |
| 2New York | $60,050 | $55,643 | 3,650 |
| 3Massachusetts | $57,990 | $54,833 | 830 |
| 4Oregon | $53,630 | $51,886 | 510 |
| 5Utah | $52,140 | $52,739 | 660 |
| 6Delaware | $50,100 | $50,196 | 180 |
| 7Connecticut | $49,790 | $48,055 | 630 |
| 8New Mexico | $48,090 | $52,152 | 230 |
| 9Washington | $48,050 | $44,901 | 960 |
| 10California | $47,840 | $43,208 | 7,980 |
Job outlook
Is Photographer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -0.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Photographers | −0.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Photographers to change -0.7% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 1,000 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 10,700 openings are projected each year, 7.4% of the 145,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The ease and quality of photos taken by smartphones may reduce the need for professional photographers. In addition, some kinds of photography, such as stock photos, are projected to be partially replaced by artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images, dampening demand for these workers.
However, employment of self-employed photographers is projected to grow as the number of amateur photographers and hobbyists entering the occupation increases. Demand for portrait photographers will remain as people continue to want new portraits. Corporations also will continue to require commercial photographers’ services to develop compelling advertisements to sell products.
Getting in
How to become a Photographer
Photographers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation. Many photographers take classes or earn a certificate or degree in photography or a related field to improve their skills.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as photographers.
- Some College Courses27.3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)18.2%
- Post-Secondary Certificate13.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree13.6%
- Bachelor's Degree13.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Some College Courses | 27.3% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 18.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 13.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 13.6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 13.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Photographer do?
Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.
Photographers use their technical expertise and creativity to produce and preserve images of people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects.
Day-to-day tasks
- Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
- Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
- Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
- Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
- Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
- Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
- Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
- Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Part-time work is common, and work schedules may vary, including evenings and weekends. Hours often are flexible so that photographers can meet with current and potential clients or visit the sites where they will work. For certain types of photographers, workloads may fluctuate with the season. For example, wedding photographers are typically busiest in the summer and fall.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where photographers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Self-employed workers67%
- Photographic services17%
- Publishing, broadcasting, and content providers4%
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation3%
- Retail trade2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 67% |
| Photographic services | 17% |
| Publishing, broadcasting, and content providers | 4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3% |
| Retail trade | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Writing2.9
- Learning Strategies2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Persuasion2.9
- Instructing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video creation and editing software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Photographer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Photographer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 5 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Realistic5.5
- Artistic5.3
- Conventional3.4
- Enterprising2.3
- Investigative2.2
- Social1.9
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Photographer
O*NET related occupations
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Most earn $30K to $69K
−5.6%High school - Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
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More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with photographers highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Interpreter and Translator$60,170
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Interpreter and Translator | $60,170 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within photographer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Photographer appears on
Questions
Photographer: frequently asked questions
How much do Photographers make?
Photographers earn a median of $44,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 12% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $21.47/hr. The middle half earn between $36,050 and $62,740. The top 10% earn $91,810 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Photographer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Photographers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 27.3% hold some college courses.
Is Photographer a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 0.7% over 2025–2035, a loss of 1,000 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 10,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Photographer do?
Photographers use their technical expertise and creativity to produce and preserve images of people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. A core O*NET task: adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Desktop publishing software.
Which states pay Photographers the most?
The highest state medians for Photographers are District of Columbia ($110,970), New York ($60,050), Massachusetts ($57,990) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Photographer?
O*NET scores Photographers highest on the Realistic, Artistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTP, INTP, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.