Photographers use technical know-how, skills, creativity, and expertise to create images. This encompasses a range of different types of image, recording events and moments that tell a story afterwards.
The working conditions for a photographer can be vary. Some photographers have their own studios and allow subjects to come to them, other travel for photo shoots, some spend their time outside looking for photo opportunities, and other work in laboratories developing film.
Because there is a high degree of creativity to photographing, formal education is not always required. It is desirable however, and professions like scientific photographers or photojournalists require degrees. Learn more about becoming a photographer here.
Photographers Salary
So, how much do photographers make? Well, it’s typical for photographers to get paid hourly more so than monthly salary. The average photographers’ hourly wage is $16.35, which equals to $34,000 per year. This is calculated by taking the median point, looking at how much half the workers were earning more than, and earning less than.
We can also determine a photographers starting salary by looking at the lowest 10%. The lowest 10% earn less than $9.54, while the top 10% are above the $36.71 hourly wage. A fairly wide margin, determined by a number of factors from geographic location, type of photography, and skillset.
About a third of all photographers work part time. Being hourly paid brings a lot of flexibility, but also a degree of uncertainty. There are also large seasonal trends, such as demand increasing in summer due to wedding and flower photographers being needed.
Photographers earning the highest hourly median wage are in the District of Columbia, with a reported $31.93.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | New York | 0.49 | $25.98 | $54,030 |
 | California | 0.44 | $25.36 | $52,750 |
 | Hawaii | 0.79 | $22.95 | $47,740 |
 | New Mexico | 0.32 | $22.22 | $46,220 |
 | Minnesota | 0.28 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Parts Manufacturing | 0.01 | $36.58 | $76,090 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | – | $33.28 | $69,230 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | 0.28 | $32.29 | $67,160 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 0.02 | $30.54 | $63,530 |
| Information Services | 0.15 | $29.37 | $61,090 |
Photographer Job Description
If you are considering the profession you’ll need to know the answer to, what does a photographer do?
There is a lot a freedom involved in this profession, and it’s also a profession that is popular as a hobby or interest. So it has lower barriers to entry than many other profession, but requires a great deal of skill.
Photographers create visual images using their creative and professional expertise. There is no limit to the subjects that can be photographed, and this profession can offer a great deal of variety. Most photographers will need to be proactive individuals, and able to manage their own time and schedule.
A professional photographer may work freelance, taking photos to sell to clients that can use them. Or, they may be working to a brief as set out by a client. Some image content for example includes; family portraits, environmental images, food, weddings, public events, and much more.
In most cases a photographers career will specialise in a certain area. They may end up specialising in fashion, editorial, celebrity, or fine art for example. Seeing as about half are self-employed there is the capacity to peruse a desired area. Others will work for business producing stock photographs, working for agencies, or work in the public sector.
Some of the typical skills and activities a professional photographer will require include:
- Working closely with clients to achieve their goals
- Communicating with clients and individuals to achieve the best images
- Seeking out good opportunities to find new photographic subjects
- Researching a shoot beforehand and turning up prepared
- Being tech savvy with a range of technical equipment
- Understanding how to use natural and artificial lighting
- Working with other professionals and owners of galleries
- Processing and amending images digitally
- Preparing some images and proofs for approval with clients
- Promoting yourself as a business and winning contracts
- Developing and putting together a portfolio of work
As you can see from the above, there is a lot of autonomy involved with being a photographer.
They are responsible for capturing the right images, and sometimes are time pressured to catch the right moment. It’s a job with some risk, but a great deal of reward and satisfaction.
Photographer Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 0.308 | $17.16 | $35,690 |
 | Alaska | 0.41 | $19.61 | $40,800 |
 | Arizona | 0.434 | $17.74 | $36,890 |
 | Arkansas | 0.333 | $13.31 | $27,690 |
| California | 0.436 | $25.36 | $52,750 |
 | Colorado | 0.433 | $16.83 | $35,010 |
 | Connecticut | 0.383 | $21.45 | $44,620 |
 | Delaware | 0.2 | $21.73 | $45,190 |
 | Florida | 0.541 | $14.41 | $29,970 |
 | Georgia | 0.364 | $18.14 | $37,740 |
| Hawaii | 0.791 | $22.95 | $47,740 |
 | Idaho | 0.268 | $15.09 | $31,390 |
 | Illinois | 0.389 | $17.13 | $35,640 |
 | Indiana | 0.441 | $14.41 | $29,980 |
 | Iowa | 0.39 | $13.44 | $27,950 |
 | Kansas | 0.313 | $14.27 | $29,680 |
 | Kentucky | 0.338 | $14.08 | $29,290 |
 | Louisiana | 0.242 | $13.79 | $28,680 |
 | Maine | 0.253 | $17.32 | $36,020 |
 | Maryland | 0.357 | $18.07 | $37,590 |
 | Massachusetts | 0.386 | $21.39 | $44,480 |
 | Michigan | 0.329 | $17.73 | $36,880 |
| Minnesota | 0.289 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
 | Mississippi | 0.223 | $14.02 | $29,150 |
 | Missouri | 0.503 | $16.01 | $33,290 |
 | Montana | 0.341 | $11.61 | $24,140 |
 | Nebraska | 0.454 | $12.78 | $26,590 |
 | Nevada | 0.594 | $18.06 | $37,560 |
 | New Hampshire | 0.357 | $14.49 | $30,140 |
 | New Jersey | 0.321 | $17.03 | $35,420 |
| New Mexico | 0.319 | $22.22 | $46,220 |
| New York | 0.489 | $25.98 | $54,030 |
 | North Carolina | 0.466 | $13.39 | $27,850 |
 | North Dakota | 0.258 | $16.12 | $33,540 |
 | Ohio | 0.391 | $16.35 | $34,010 |
 | Oklahoma | 0.453 | $16.12 | $33,530 |
 | Oregon | 0.223 | $19.18 | $39,890 |
 | Pennsylvania | 0.356 | $14.52 | $30,200 |
 | Rhode Island | 0.547 | $21.30 | $44,290 |
 | South Carolina | 0.316 | $16.26 | $33,830 |
 | South Dakota | 0.28 | $15.32 | $31,870 |
 | Tennessee | 0.306 | $15.19 | $31,590 |
 | Texas | 0.296 | $16.06 | $33,400 |
 | Utah | 0.551 | $16.20 | $33,700 |
 | Vermont | 0.371 | $18.28 | $38,030 |
 | Virginia | 0.266 | $18.63 | $38,760 |
 | Washington | 0.388 | $15.63 | $32,500 |
 | West Virginia | 0.203 | $15.86 | $32,990 |
 | Wisconsin | 0.338 | $18.42 | $38,310 |
 | Wyoming | 0.272 | $14.11 | $29,340 |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Long Beach / Glendale – CA – Metropolitan Division | 0.66 | $31.81 | $66,160 |
| New York / White Plains / Wayne, – NY/NJ – Metropolitan Division | 0.62 | $28.46 | $59,190 |
| New Haven, – CT | 0.23 | $26.64 | $55,420 |
| Honolulu, – HI | 0.85 | $24.96 | $51,920 |
| Wilmington – DE / MD / NJ – Metropolitan Division | 0.17 | $24.19 | $50,320 |
Top paying non-metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Virginia – nonmetropolitan area | 0.32 | $23.33 | $48,530 |
| Southern Vermont – nonmetropolitan area | 0.39 | $21.10 | $43,890 |
| East – Central Pennsylvania – nonmetropolitan area | 0.16 | $20.00 | $41,600 |
| Western Colorado – nonmetropolitan area | 0.64 | $18.50 | $38,480 |
| Capital – Northern New York – nonmetropolitan area | 0.26 | $17.73 | $36,880 |
Job Outlook
The growth projected for photographers between 2016 and 2026 is expected to be -6%. Which means that this profession is in decline, however, this shouldn’t put you off of pursuing your dreams, there’s always a demand for good photographers. The project growth (decline) is considerably slower than the average of all professions, and there are a few reasons for this.
The cost of digital cameras has decreased dramatically over recent years, and is expected to carry on for the foreseeable future. This has increased the accessibility for amateur photographers and people doing so as a hobby.
Ever improving technology also reduces the barriers to entry for people picking up a camera for the first time, allowing more consumers to take, produce, alter, and work with their own high-quality images.
Decline of employment of self-employed photographers is also expected to be -6% for the same time period. Growth will always continue while the demand is there for new portraits and images. Likewise there will always be demand for compelling images used in advertising and marketing campaigns.
