The average wage for a photographer in the United States is around $18.22 per hour.
Avg Wage
Photographers earn an average hourly wage of $18.22.
Salaries typically start from $10.36 per hour and go up to $32.04 per hour.
37% below national average Updated in 2019
Photographer earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Photographer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $42,160 |
| Alabama | $34,931 |
| Arkansas | $28,380 |
| Arizona | $36,817 |
| California | $48,253 |
| Colorado | $31,230 |
| Connecticut | $43,210 |
| District of Columbia | $84,720 |
| Delaware | $31,810 |
| Florida | $39,990 |
| Georgia | $36,670 |
| Hawaii | $42,025 |
| Iowa | $29,448 |
| Idaho | $31,117 |
| Illinois | $41,374 |
| Indiana | $38,125 |
| Kansas | $33,607 |
| Kentucky | $35,650 |
| Louisiana | $30,220 |
| Massachusetts | $46,770 |
| Maryland | $35,670 |
| Maine | $30,980 |
| Michigan | $31,351 |
| Minnesota | $47,810 |
| Missouri | $36,470 |
| Mississippi | $43,330 |
| Montana | $23,110 |
| North Carolina | $26,400 |
| North Dakota | $35,140 |
| Nebraska | $29,820 |
| New Hampshire | $34,020 |
| New Jersey | $27,570 |
| New Mexico | $32,300 |
| Nevada | $29,820 |
| New York | $43,210 |
| Ohio | $29,920 |
| Oklahoma | $31,330 |
| Oregon | $29,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,509 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,840 |
| Rhode Island | $55,990 |
| South Carolina | $42,090 |
| South Dakota | $29,420 |
| Tennessee | $28,530 |
| Texas | $28,100 |
| Utah | $27,000 |
| Virginia | $32,820 |
| Vermont | $43,230 |
| Washington | $44,180 |
| Wisconsin | $29,360 |
| West Virginia | $29,480 |
| Wyoming | $35,360 |
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 museum conservators but more than engravers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Museum conservator salary | $44K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $41K |
| Gem worker salary | $41K |
| Jeweler salary | $41K |
| Graphic designer salary | $39K |
| Photographer salary | $38K |
| Craft artist salary | $37K |
| Potter salary | $34K |
| Glass blower salary | $34K |
| Engraver salary | $31K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)