SOC 27-4021 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Photographers wages by metro
National median annual wage
$44,660
- 10th percentile
- $30,820
- 25th percentile
- $36,050
- Median
- $44,660
- 75th percentile
- $62,740
- 90th percentile
- $91,810
- Mean
- $55,410
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 51,760.
That median is 12.4% lower than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | 30 | $37,190 | $65,990 | $87,510 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 70 | $37,450 | $62,550 | $92,200 |
| Boulder, CO | 60 | $39,590 | $60,930 | $99,990 |
| Springfield, MA | 40 | $39,170 | $60,430 | $99,460 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,590 | $37,750 | $60,050 | $110,380 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 280 | $34,650 | $60,000 | $87,550 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 350 | $37,380 | $59,220 | $111,030 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 880 | $41,250 | $58,840 | $119,280 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 150 | $35,450 | $58,050 | $126,480 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 100 | $35,250 | $56,890 | $81,260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 60 | $34,560 | $56,220 | $80,320 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 60 | $36,320 | $55,220 | $85,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 670 | $36,870 | $55,020 | $119,600 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,060 | $35,440 | $54,530 | $124,830 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 160 | $34,940 | $54,260 | $81,340 |
| Springfield, MO | 80 | $32,020 | $52,510 | $68,960 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 210 | $40,610 | $52,470 | $127,560 |
| Montgomery, AL | 30 | $24,580 | $52,160 | $88,130 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 100 | $31,020 | $51,870 | $127,650 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 550 | $39,800 | $51,790 | $84,280 |
Where employment is largest
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 260 | $46,080 | $110,970 | $148,360 |
| New York | 3,650 | $37,890 | $60,050 | $109,470 |
| Massachusetts | 830 | $38,480 | $57,990 | $112,760 |
| Oregon | 510 | $37,010 | $53,630 | $110,380 |
| Utah | 660 | $31,440 | $52,140 | $81,070 |
| Delaware | 180 | $32,980 | $50,100 | $71,170 |
| Connecticut | 630 | $34,010 | $49,790 | $79,880 |
| New Mexico | 230 | $34,800 | $48,090 | $79,780 |
| Washington | 960 | $37,440 | $48,050 | $83,200 |
| California | 7,980 | $36,470 | $47,840 | $125,490 |
| Kentucky | 380 | $23,990 | $47,170 | $76,490 |
| Colorado | 1,140 | $36,440 | $47,070 | $92,200 |
| Maine | 180 | $33,270 | $46,680 | $79,230 |
| Virginia | 1,580 | $31,200 | $46,550 | $91,060 |
| Minnesota | 730 | $36,890 | $46,470 | $84,530 |
| Maryland | 790 | $31,200 | $46,450 | $93,660 |
| Hawaii | 440 | $30,800 | $45,960 | $105,820 |
| Mississippi | 190 | $24,030 | $45,860 | $65,370 |
| South Dakota | 190 | $31,150 | $45,330 | $54,750 |
| New Hampshire | 220 | $22,110 | $44,780 | $76,570 |
| Georgia | 1,420 | $22,690 | $43,770 | $103,550 |
| Florida | 4,390 | $29,990 | $42,640 | $80,400 |
| Wisconsin | 850 | $31,540 | $42,060 | $80,550 |
| Nebraska | 220 | $28,080 | $41,920 | $71,150 |
| Texas | 4,330 | $24,910 | $41,280 | $62,720 |
| New Jersey | 1,460 | $34,990 | $40,520 | $91,780 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,870 | $29,020 | $40,520 | $75,100 |
| Montana | 190 | $24,070 | $39,900 | $110,570 |
| Wyoming | 50 | $28,430 | $39,330 | $70,290 |
| Alaska | 50 | $34,040 | $39,190 | $101,430 |
| Missouri | 950 | $29,600 | $39,170 | $74,530 |
| Ohio | 1,540 | $23,670 | $38,470 | $80,990 |
| Iowa | 430 | $15,080 | $38,290 | $77,830 |
| Tennessee | 780 | $28,820 | $37,950 | $67,060 |
| South Carolina | 630 | $26,480 | $37,890 | $71,810 |
| Kansas | 300 | $29,340 | $37,790 | $72,380 |
| Nevada | 890 | $26,610 | $37,460 | $57,640 |
| North Dakota | 70 | $35,350 | $37,410 | $71,500 |
| Rhode Island | 220 | $34,600 | $37,300 | $76,810 |
| North Carolina | 2,130 | $28,330 | $37,120 | $76,060 |
| Arizona | 1,360 | $32,080 | $36,970 | $84,130 |
| Louisiana | 510 | $19,180 | $36,830 | $70,310 |
| Oklahoma | 330 | $17,210 | $36,750 | $63,370 |
| Illinois | 2,150 | $31,200 | $36,570 | $96,770 |
| Alabama | 530 | $24,590 | $36,130 | $72,550 |
| West Virginia | 110 | $29,130 | $36,110 | $57,510 |
| Indiana | 810 | $24,960 | $35,960 | $59,350 |
| Puerto Rico | 90 | $23,040 | $34,060 | $48,880 |
| Idaho | 190 | $22,470 | $33,320 | $53,790 |
| Arkansas | 240 | $24,890 | $32,810 | $43,950 |
| Michigan | 970 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Vermont | 60 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Other arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
- Public Relations Specialists
- Coaches and Scouts
- Graphic Designers
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Producers and Directors
- Editors
- Interior Designers
- Audio and Video Technicians
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Photographers?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Photographers is $44,660. Employment is 51,760.
How does Photographers pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Photographers is 12.4% lower than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Photographers?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, Bend, OR is highest on this page's list at $65,990.