The average salary for a photographer in the United States is around $44,660 per year.
Avg Salary
Photographers earn an average yearly salary of $44,660.
Wages typically start from $30,820 and go up to $91,810.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Photographer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level photographer earnings begin at:
$44.14 per hour
$91,810 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level photographer earnings begin at:
$30.16 per hour
$62,740 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level photographer earnings begin at:
$21.47 per hour
$44,660 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level photographer earnings begin at:
$17.33 per hour
$36,050 per year
10th percentile
Starting level photographer earnings begin at:
$14.82 per hour
$30,820 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Photographer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $60,050 |
| Massachusetts | $57,990 |
| Oregon | $53,630 |
| Utah | $52,140 |
| Delaware | $50,100 |
| Connecticut | $49,790 |
| Vermont | $49,060 |
| New Mexico | $48,090 |
| Washington | $48,050 |
| California | $47,840 |
| Kentucky | $47,170 |
| Colorado | $47,070 |
| Maine | $46,680 |
| Virginia | $46,550 |
| Minnesota | $46,470 |
| Maryland | $46,450 |
| Hawaii | $45,960 |
| Mississippi | $45,860 |
| South Dakota | $45,330 |
| New Hampshire | $44,780 |
| Georgia | $43,770 |
| Florida | $42,640 |
| Wisconsin | $42,060 |
| Nebraska | $41,920 |
| Texas | $41,280 |
| New Jersey | $40,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,520 |
| Montana | $39,900 |
| Wyoming | $39,330 |
| Alaska | $39,190 |
| Missouri | $39,170 |
| Ohio | $38,470 |
| Iowa | $38,290 |
| Tennessee | $37,950 |
| Michigan | $37,930 |
| South Carolina | $37,890 |
| Kansas | $37,790 |
| Nevada | $37,460 |
| North Dakota | $37,410 |
| Rhode Island | $37,300 |
| North Carolina | $37,120 |
| Arizona | $36,970 |
| Louisiana | $36,830 |
| Oklahoma | $36,750 |
| Illinois | $36,570 |
| Alabama | $36,130 |
| West Virginia | $36,110 |
| Indiana | $35,960 |
| Idaho | $33,320 |
| Arkansas | $32,810 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,070 |
| District of Columbia | $110,970 |
How do photographer salaries compare to similar careers?
Photographers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than art therapists but more than potters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Art therapist salary | $62K |
| Model maker salary | $57K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $53K |
| Jeweler salary | $53K |
| Museum conservator salary | $51K |
| Photographer salary | $45K |
| Projectionist salary | $38K |
| Craft artist salary | $46K |
| Glass blower salary | $46K |
| Potter salary | $46K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)