27-4021

Photographers

Role Overview

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).

Recommended Majors

Photojournalism. Visual and Performing Arts, General. Digital Arts. Commercial Photography. Photography. Art/Art Studies, General.

Related Careers

Actors Actors, Producers, and Directors Art and Design Workers Art Directors Artists and Related Workers Artists and Related Workers, All Other

Salary by State (top paying)

State	Median salary
District of Columbia	$110,530
Massachusetts	$60,610
New York	$57,700
Oregon	$55,640
Minnesota	$54,650
New Jersey	$50,760
California	$50,610
Delaware	$50,040
Rhode Island	$49,770
Louisiana	$49,740
Connecticut	$48,260
New Hampshire	$48,180
Utah	$47,610
Hawaii	$45,440
Maryland	$44,890

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for this career?

Projected growth and annual openings are from BLS Employment Projections. Use the sidebar for median salary and growth rate.

How does salary vary by state?

See the Salary by State table above for state-level median wages from OEWS data.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), BLS Employment Projections.

Median Annual Salary

$42,520

Projected Growth (10yr)

+1.8%

Avg. annual openings

12.7k

Market Insight

Explore salary and growth data to understand demand and earning potential for this role.