Photographers · New York

Photographers Salary in New York

Photographers in New York earn a median annual wage of $60,050 —34.5% above the national median of $44,660. That ranks NY #2 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$60,050
Median hourly
$28.87
Entry level (P10)
$37,890
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$109,470
90th percentile
Employment
3,650
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+34.5%
U.S. $44,660

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$37,890
$43,080
$60,050
$93,620
$37,890$60,050$109,470
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $60,050.

Employment concentration (1.13×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for photographers

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. New York is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$110,970$53.352601.13
2New York$60,050$28.873,6501.13
3Massachusetts$57,990$27.888300.69
4Oregon$53,630$25.785100.78
5Utah$52,140$25.076601.14
6Delaware$50,100$24.091801.11
7Connecticut$49,790$23.946301.12
8New Mexico$48,090$23.122300.79
9Washington$48,050$23.109600.81
10California$47,840$23.007,9801.32

Related occupations in New York

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New York.

OccupationNew York medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$81,250$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$59,920$47,320
Graphic Designers$77,340$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$43,660$39,390
Producers and Directors$107,550$90,360
Editors$101,480$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do photographers make in New York?

The median annual wage for photographers in New York is $60,050, or $28.87 per hour. That is 34.5% above the national median of $44,660.

What is the entry-level photographers salary in New York?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,890 per year ($18.22/hour). The 25th percentile is $43,080.

How many people work as photographers in New York?

About 3,650 people work in this occupation in New York, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New York a good state for photographers?

New York ranks #2 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.13x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays photographers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $110,970 per year, followed by New York ($60,050) and Massachusetts ($57,990).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes