Photographer Salary in United States
Photographers capture and edit images for clients, publications, and brands. The United States median is $63,500 per year. Pick a city below for a local breakdown.
Showing amounts in USD (USD default). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies
National median
$63,500
per year
Monthly (national)
$5,300
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$86,500
Washington DC, DC
Hourly (national)
$30.53
varies by city
Photographer salary by city in United States
| City | Per year | Per month | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC, DC | $86,500 | $7,200 | +36% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $81,300 | $6,800 | +28% |
| San Diego, CA | $75,100 | $6,300 | +18% |
| Chicago, IL | $68,300 | $5,700 | +8% |
| The Bronx, NY | $63,500 | $5,300 | 0% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $63,500 | $5,300 | 0% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $63,500 | $5,300 | 0% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $62,800 | $5,200 | -1% |
| Dallas, TX | $61,800 | $5,200 | -3% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $58,800 | $4,900 | -7% |
| Houston, TX | $57,100 | $4,800 | -10% |
| San Antonio, TX | $51,200 | $4,300 | -19% |
Photographer salary in other countries
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
Germany
France
Netherlands
Switzerland
Singapore
India
Japan
South Korea
Poland
Brazil
United Arab Emirates
Mexico
Ireland
Spain
Italy
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Belgium
Austria
Portugal
Finland
China
Hong Kong
New Zealand
Indonesia
Philippines
Vietnam
Thailand
Malaysia
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Argentina
Colombia
South AfricaRelated Creative salaries in United States
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a photographer make in United States?
- The national median photographer salary in United States is about $63,500 per year ($5,300 per month). Across 12 cities, pay ranges from about $51,200 to $86,500.
- Which United States city pays photographers the most?
- Washington DC, DC pays the most at about $86,500 per year.
- Which United States city pays photographers the least?
- Among cities we cover, San Antonio, TX is on the lower end at about $51,200 per year for a photographer.
- What is the typical salary range for a photographer in United States?
- Across United States cities we cover, photographer pay commonly spans from about $29,900 at the entry end in lower-paying markets up to about $148,000 for senior pay in higher-paying cities. Open a city page for the full local percentile band.
- How many United States cities have photographer salary data?
- Pay by Role publishes photographer pay for 12 cities in United States, all shown in USD.
- Is photographer in demand in United States?
- Employment for this role is projected to change by about +4% over the next decade. Related creative roles on Pay by Role include Graphic Designer, Architect, Copywriter.