Photographers capture moments and emotions through their lens, creating visual stories that evoke powerful feelings and memories.
This article will explore the best states for photographers, based on the average annual salary for the occupation.
- 1. District of Columbia ($80,400)
- 2. Hawaii ($69,980)
- 3. New York ($68,950)
- 4. New Mexico ($66,500)
- 5. California ($65,290)
- 6. Georgia ($63,870)
- 7. Minnesota ($61,360)
- 8. Utah ($55,590)
- 9. Montana ($54,800)
- 10. Connecticut ($54,640)
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- The highest-paid photographers are in District of Columbia, where they earn an average of $80,400 per year.
- The lowest-paid photographers are in Vermont, where they earn an average of $-1 per year.
- The U.S. average salary for photographers is $46,544 per year.
1. District of Columbia ($80,400)
Photographers in District of Columbia earn the highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in District of Columbia is
$80,400, which is +73% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $80,400 |
| 10th Percentile | $48,370 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,460 |
| 75th Percentile | $96,670 |
| 90th Percentile | $116,780 |
2. Hawaii ($69,980)
Photographers in Hawaii earn the 2nd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in Hawaii is
$69,980, which is +50% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $69,980 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,920 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,690 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,590 |
| 90th Percentile | $95,500 |
3. New York ($68,950)
Photographers in New York earn the 3rd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in New York is
$68,950, which is +48% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $68,950 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,240 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,270 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,210 |
| 90th Percentile | $124,990 |
4. New Mexico ($66,500)
Photographers in New Mexico earn the 4th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in New Mexico is
$66,500, which is +43% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $66,500 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,510 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,950 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,930 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,360 |
5. California ($65,290)
Photographers in California earn the 5th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in California is
$65,290, which is +40% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $65,290 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,370 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,870 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,790 |
| 90th Percentile | $101,950 |
6. Georgia ($63,870)
Photographers in Georgia earn the 6th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in Georgia is
$63,870, which is +37% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $63,870 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,830 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,380 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,100 |
| 90th Percentile | $127,980 |
7. Minnesota ($61,360)
Photographers in Minnesota earn the 7th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in Minnesota is
$61,360, which is +32% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $61,360 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,120 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,380 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,030 |
| 90th Percentile | $100,870 |
8. Utah ($55,590)
Photographers in Utah earn the 8th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in Utah is
$55,590, which is +19% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $55,590 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,220 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,590 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,140 |
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 |
9. Montana ($54,800)
Photographers in Montana earn the 9th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in Montana is
$54,800, which is +18% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $54,800 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,260 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,220 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,410 |
| 90th Percentile | $121,300 |
10. Connecticut ($54,640)
Photographers in Connecticut earn the 10th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
photographers in Connecticut is
$54,640, which is +17% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $54,640 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,940 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,570 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,850 |
| 90th Percentile | $83,460 |
Conclusion
The highest-paid photographers are in District of Columbia, where they earn an average of $80,400 per year. The lowest-paid photographers are in Vermont, where they earn an average of $-1 per year. The U.S. average salary for photographers is $46,544 per year and there are 47,490 jobs in the field.
