Photographers · Washington

Photographers Salary in Washington

Photographers in Washington earn a median annual wage of $48,050 —7.6% above the national median of $44,660. That ranks WA #9 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$48,050
Median hourly
$23.10
Entry level (P10)
$37,440
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$83,200
90th percentile
Employment
960
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+7.6%
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
$37,440
$40,690
$48,050
$65,450
$37,440$48,050$83,200
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $48,050.

Employment is only 0.81× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Washington.

Highest-paying states for photographers

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington 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 Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

OccupationWashington medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$87,470$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$48,030$47,320
Graphic Designers$72,710$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$48,780$39,390
Producers and Directors$81,550$90,360
Editors$77,850$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do photographers make in Washington?

The median annual wage for photographers in Washington is $48,050, or $23.10 per hour. That is 7.6% above the national median of $44,660.

What is the entry-level photographers salary in Washington?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,440 per year ($18.00/hour). The 25th percentile is $40,690.

How many people work as photographers in Washington?

About 960 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for photographers?

Washington ranks #9 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.81x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Washington.

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