Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

27-4021 Photographers

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject’s appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists. Excludes “Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film” (27-4031).


National estimates for Photographers
Industry profile for Photographers
Geographic profile for Photographers

National estimates for Photographers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Photographers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
47,380 1.8 % $ 24.14 $ 50,210 1.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for Photographers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 12.98 $ 14.93 $ 19.31 $ 28.73 $ 39.64
Annual Wage (2) $ 26,990 $ 31,050 $ 40,170 $ 59,750 $ 82,450


Industry profile for Photographers:

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

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Photographers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 24,790 3.01 $ 21.41 $ 44,530
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations 2,210 1.83 $ 27.89 $ 58,010
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers 1,540 0.50 $ 24.90 $ 51,780
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 1,510 0.65 $ 30.16 $ 62,730
Motion Picture and Video Industries 1,470 0.35 $ 46.78 $ 97,290

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Photographers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 24,790 3.01 $ 21.41 $ 44,530
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations 2,210 1.83 $ 27.89 $ 58,010
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers 530 0.86 $ 23.36 $ 48,590
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 1,510 0.65 $ 30.16 $ 62,730
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers 1,540 0.50 $ 24.90 $ 51,780

Top paying industries for Photographers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Grantmaking and Giving Services (8) (8) $ 51.89 $ 107,920
Scientific Research and Development Services 40 (7) $ 49.27 $ 102,480
Motion Picture and Video Industries 1,470 0.35 $ 46.78 $ 97,290
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 30 0.01 $ 46.59 $ 96,910
Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (8) (8) $ 42.44 $ 88,270


Geographic profile for Photographers:

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



Map of employment of photographers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Photographers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 5,200 0.29 0.92 $ 31.39 $ 65,290
Texas 4,390 0.34 1.05 $ 17.70 $ 36,820
New York 4,070 0.45 1.40 $ 33.15 $ 68,950
Florida 3,090 0.34 1.05 $ 20.96 $ 43,590
Illinois 2,590 0.44 1.38 $ 22.02 $ 45,810


Map of location quotient of photographers by state, May 2022


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

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 430 0.62 1.94 $ 38.65 $ 80,400
Nevada 810 0.57 1.78 $ 21.38 $ 44,470
Hawaii 340 0.57 1.78 $ 33.65 $ 69,980
Utah 840 0.52 1.61 $ 26.73 $ 55,590
Rhode Island 220 0.45 1.41 $ 23.76 $ 49,410


Map of annual mean wages of photographers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Photographers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 430 0.62 1.94 $ 38.65 $ 80,400
Hawaii 340 0.57 1.78 $ 33.65 $ 69,980
New York 4,070 0.45 1.40 $ 33.15 $ 68,950
New Mexico 260 0.32 0.98 $ 31.97 $ 66,500
California 5,200 0.29 0.92 $ 31.39 $ 65,290



Map of employment of photographers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Photographers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 3,940 0.43 1.34 $ 33.54 $ 69,760
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2,070 0.47 1.47 $ 22.68 $ 47,170
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,040 0.33 1.04 $ 36.01 $ 74,900
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,410 0.37 1.15 $ 18.74 $ 38,970
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,320 0.49 1.52 $ 33.51 $ 69,700
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 970 0.32 1.00 $ 17.75 $ 36,930
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 960 0.32 0.99 $ 31.58 $ 65,680
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 910 0.33 1.02 $ 20.95 $ 43,580
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 820 0.34 1.07 $ 34.28 $ 71,300
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 770 0.29 0.91 $ 25.91 $ 53,890


Map of location quotient of photographers by area, May 2022


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

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 90 1.23 3.85 (8) (8)
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 40 0.88 2.76 $ 16.90 $ 35,160
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC 120 0.72 2.24 $ 15.48 $ 32,210
Flagstaff, AZ 40 0.71 2.22 $ 16.72 $ 34,780
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 730 0.71 2.22 $ 21.22 $ 44,140
Killeen-Temple, TX 100 0.69 2.17 $ 12.82 $ 26,660
Tallahassee, FL 110 0.62 1.93 $ 15.91 $ 33,090
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA 150 0.61 1.90 $ 18.66 $ 38,820
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 170 0.61 1.90 $ 21.86 $ 45,460
Santa Fe, NM 40 0.60 1.88 $ 29.61 $ 61,580


Map of annual mean wages of photographers by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Photographers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,040 0.33 1.04 $ 36.01 $ 74,900
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 820 0.34 1.07 $ 34.28 $ 71,300
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 230 0.20 0.64 $ 34.09 $ 70,910
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 3,940 0.43 1.34 $ 33.54 $ 69,760
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,320 0.49 1.52 $ 33.51 $ 69,700
Urban Honolulu, HI 210 0.49 1.54 $ 32.56 $ 67,720
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 40 0.17 0.53 $ 32.27 $ 67,120
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 960 0.32 0.99 $ 31.58 $ 65,680
Boulder, CO 80 0.43 1.35 $ 30.92 $ 64,310
Fresno, CA 90 0.23 0.72 $ 30.60 $ 63,650

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Photographers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 220 1.61 5.01 $ 15.14 $ 31,500
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 80 0.65 2.03 $ 17.16 $ 35,690
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 60 0.52 1.63 $ 20.57 $ 42,790
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 60 0.19 0.60 $ 16.32 $ 33,940
Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area 60 0.35 1.09 $ 19.12 $ 39,770

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Photographers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 220 1.61 5.01 $ 15.14 $ 31,500
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 80 0.65 2.03 $ 17.16 $ 35,690
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 60 0.52 1.63 $ 20.57 $ 42,790
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 40 0.48 1.51 $ 25.19 $ 52,400
Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area 40 0.44 1.38 (8) (8)

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Photographers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area 30 0.20 0.63 $ 33.72 $ 70,130
Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 30 0.16 0.51 $ 27.09 $ 56,360
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 40 0.48 1.51 $ 25.19 $ 52,400
Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 40 0.41 1.27 $ 22.82 $ 47,460
Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 30 0.14 0.44 $ 22.67 $ 47,160


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023