Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

27-4021 Photographers

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects, using digital or film cameras and equipment. May develop negatives or use computer software to produce finished images and prints. Includes scientific photographers, aerial photographers, and photojournalists.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
56,140 1.9 % $17.47 $36,330 1.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.42 $9.59 $13.70 $21.12 $32.21
Annual Wage (2) $17,520 $19,950 $28,490 $43,930 $66,990

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 37,730 6.21 $15.83 $32,930
Radio and Television Broadcasting 4,580 2.14 $21.51 $44,730
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers 3,860 0.84 $19.78 $41,150
Amusement Parks and Arcades 1,050 0.61 $14.29 $29,710
Other Personal Services 930 0.37 $22.68 $47,170

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 37,730 6.21 $15.83 $32,930
Radio and Television Broadcasting 4,580 2.14 $21.51 $44,730
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers 720 1.45 $17.44 $36,270
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers 3,860 0.84 $19.78 $41,150
Amusement Parks and Arcades 1,050 0.61 $14.29 $29,710

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 50 0.01 $31.45 $65,430
Motion Picture and Video Industries 520 0.14 $30.60 $63,650
Scientific Research and Development Services 90 0.01 $28.02 $58,280
Other Information Services 390 0.23 $27.95 $58,130
Cable and Other Subscription Programming 70 0.09 $27.75 $57,720

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 5,380 0.38 0.87 $24.51 $50,980
New York 4,530 0.53 1.23 $22.29 $46,360
Florida 4,380 0.60 1.40 $13.63 $28,350
Texas 3,520 0.33 0.77 $15.10 $31,420
Illinois 2,780 0.49 1.14 $23.30 $48,470




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 470 0.81 1.87 $17.27 $35,920
Rhode Island 290 0.63 1.47 $13.70 $28,500
Florida 4,380 0.60 1.40 $13.63 $28,350
Nevada 650 0.58 1.34 $22.88 $47,590
Nebraska 500 0.54 1.26 $11.74 $24,420




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 290 0.44 1.01 $32.59 $67,790
California 5,380 0.38 0.87 $24.51 $50,980
Illinois 2,780 0.49 1.14 $23.30 $48,470
Nevada 650 0.58 1.34 $22.88 $47,590
New York 4,530 0.53 1.23 $22.29 $46,360





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,100 0.60 1.40 $25.57 $53,180
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 2,140 0.59 1.37 $24.93 $51,860
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 1,680 0.43 1.00 $28.68 $59,650
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 1,500 1.48 3.43 $12.92 $26,870
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 1,280 0.57 1.32 $14.21 $29,550
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 970 0.55 1.29 $23.88 $49,670
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 960 0.36 0.85 $15.91 $33,090
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 900 0.64 1.49 $14.83 $30,840
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 900 0.49 1.14 $13.89 $28,880
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 870 0.50 1.17 $17.78 $36,980




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Tallahassee, FL 510 3.24 7.51 $10.18 $21,180
Burlington, NC 100 1.76 4.09 $12.52 $26,040
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 1,500 1.48 3.43 $12.92 $26,870
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC 140 1.29 3.00 $17.53 $36,460
Sandusky, OH 50 1.26 2.94 (8) (8)
Santa Fe, NM 60 1.08 2.51 $19.23 $40,000
Goldsboro, NC 40 1.06 2.46 $11.85 $24,650
Chattanooga, TN-GA 230 1.03 2.38 $11.77 $24,490
Cheyenne, WY 40 1.00 2.33 $17.12 $35,620
Charleston, WV 140 0.97 2.25 $13.87 $28,860