Photographers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for photographers is $44,660, or $21.47 per hour. About 51,760 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $110,970 in District of Columbia to $32,810 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 49 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $110,970 | $53.35 | 260 | 1.13 |
| 2 | New York | $60,050 | $28.87 | 3,650 | 1.13 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $57,990 | $27.88 | 830 | 0.69 |
| 4 | Oregon | $53,630 | $25.78 | 510 | 0.78 |
| 5 | Utah | $52,140 | $25.07 | 660 | 1.14 |
| 6 | Delaware | $50,100 | $24.09 | 180 | 1.11 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $49,790 | $23.94 | 630 | 1.12 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $48,090 | $23.12 | 230 | 0.79 |
| 9 | Washington | $48,050 | $23.10 | 960 | 0.81 |
| 10 | California | $47,840 | $23.00 | 7,980 | 1.32 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $47,170 | $22.68 | 380 | 0.57 |
| 12 | Colorado | $47,070 | $22.63 | 1,140 | 1.19 |
| 13 | Maine | $46,680 | $22.44 | 180 | 0.86 |
| 14 | Virginia | $46,550 | $22.38 | 1,580 | 1.15 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $46,470 | $22.34 | 730 | 0.74 |
| 16 | Maryland | $46,450 | $22.33 | 790 | 0.86 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $45,960 | $22.10 | 440 | 2.09 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $45,860 | $22.05 | 190 | 0.50 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $45,330 | $21.79 | 190 | 1.22 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $44,780 | $21.53 | 220 | 0.97 |
| 21 | Georgia | $43,770 | $21.04 | 1,420 | 0.87 |
| 22 | Florida | $42,640 | $20.50 | 4,390 | 1.33 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $42,060 | $20.22 | 850 | 0.87 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $41,920 | $20.15 | 220 | 0.66 |
| 25 | Texas | $41,280 | $19.85 | 4,330 | 0.92 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $40,520 | $19.48 | 1,870 | 0.93 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $40,520 | $19.48 | 1,460 | 1.02 |
| 28 | Montana | $39,900 | $19.18 | 190 | 1.09 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $39,330 | $18.91 | 50 | 0.56 |
| 30 | Alaska | $39,190 | $18.84 | 50 | 0.48 |
| 31 | Missouri | $39,170 | $18.83 | 950 | 0.97 |
| 32 | Ohio | $38,470 | $18.50 | 1,540 | 0.83 |
| 33 | Iowa | $38,290 | $18.41 | 430 | 0.83 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $37,950 | $18.25 | 780 | 0.71 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $37,890 | $18.22 | 630 | 0.82 |
| 36 | Kansas | $37,790 | $18.17 | 300 | 0.63 |
| 37 | Nevada | $37,460 | $18.01 | 890 | 1.71 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $37,410 | $17.99 | 70 | 0.49 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $37,300 | $17.93 | 220 | 1.34 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $37,120 | $17.84 | 2,130 | 1.30 |
| 41 | Arizona | $36,970 | $17.77 | 1,360 | 1.26 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $36,830 | $17.71 | 510 | 0.79 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $36,750 | $17.67 | 330 | 0.58 |
| 44 | Illinois | $36,570 | $17.58 | 2,150 | 1.06 |
| 45 | Alabama | $36,130 | $17.37 | 530 | 0.76 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $36,110 | $17.36 | 110 | 0.46 |
| 47 | Indiana | $35,960 | $17.29 | 810 | 0.76 |
| 48 | Idaho | $33,320 | $16.02 | 190 | 0.67 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $32,810 | $15.78 | 240 | 0.56 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do photographers make?
The median annual wage for photographers in the United States is $44,660, or $21.47 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $30,820, and the top 10% earn $91,810.
How many photographers are employed in the U.S.?
About 51,760 people work as photographers nationwide.
Which state pays photographers the most?
District of Columbia pays the most at a median of $110,970, followed by New York ($60,050) and Massachusetts ($57,990).
Which state pays photographers the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $32,810.
Where are photographers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Hawaii at 2.09×.