Graphic Designer
Median wage · national
$62,960
Range: $49K – $82K
Employed
198K
Openings/yr
16K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Photographer
Photographer earn $44,660 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $36,050 and $62,740. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Photographer
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a photographer: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Fine Arts and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $44,660
- Employed Nationally
- 52K
- Openings / Year
- 10,700
- Entry Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Advertising Photographer
Aerial Photographer
Automotive Photographer
Biological Photographer
Biomedical Photographer
How Much Do Photographers Make?
Most photographers take home around $44,660 a year, well below what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $36,050 and $62,740, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Think carefully about how much debt is worth taking on for it. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$44,660
National Median (Annual)
Significantly below average. Specialized roles can raise this considerably.
$36K–$63K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$36,050
Entry-level
$44,660
Median
$62,740
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $55,410, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Photographers Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
- Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
- Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
- Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
- Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Service Orientation
Active Learning
Judgment and Decision Making
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Photographers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Photographers?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by -0.7%, meaning it is shrinking, so expect more competition for fewer roles. Around 10,700 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↘ -0.7%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Declining employment projected.
10,700
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
52K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Photographer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $44,660 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 7,980 | $47,840 | +7.1% |
| 2 | Florida | 4,390 | $42,640 | -4.5% |
| 3 | Texas | 4,330 | $41,280 | -7.6% |
| 4 | New York | 3,650 | $60,050 | +34.5% |
| 5 | Illinois | 2,150 | $36,570 | -18.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a high school diploma or equivalent. The 5 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Design program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts | 36,332 | $41,367 | 1,458 |
| 2 | Design | 36,019 | $51,490 | 1,238 |
| 3 | Film & Video Production | 18,531 | $43,765 | 678 |
| 4 | Journalism | 12,280 | $56,278 | 522 |
| 5 | Visual & Performing Arts | 6,785 | $41,688 | 550 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Photographers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 2 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 4 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 6 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Photographer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Photographer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Photographer Pros & Cons
Photographer has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 1 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
PROS
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Below-average earnings Median pay of $44,660 falls below the national average for college graduates. ROI is weak at higher-cost programs. Prioritize schools with low net price.
- Declining employment The BLS projects -0.7% employment change through 2035. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
Photographer Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Photographer professionals earn?
Around $44,660 a year for the typical worker, below the national median, program ROI depends heavily on keeping tuition costs low. The middle 50% of earners fall between $36,050 and $62,740. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Photographer a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -0.7% employment change through 2035. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $44,660 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How do I become a Photographer?
Most Photographer positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Fine Arts are common starting points.
Why are Photographer jobs declining?
The BLS projects -0.7% employment change for Photographer through 2035. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 10,700 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 52K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
What skills do Photographer professionals need?
Mainly Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, Active Learning, and Judgment and Decision Making. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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