U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsPhotograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects, using digital or film cameras and equipment. May develop negatives or use computer software to produce finished images and prints. Includes scientific photographers, aerial photographers, and photojournalists.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54,550 | 1.8 % | $17.30 | $35,980 | 1.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $8.34 | $9.96 | $14.00 | $21.01 | $30.48 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $17,350 | $20,710 | $29,130 | $43,700 | $63,400 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 36,930 | 6.38 | $15.69 | $32,630 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting | 4,620 | 2.17 | $20.89 | $43,450 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | 4,200 | 0.83 | $19.51 | $40,580 |
| Other Personal Services | 870 | 0.37 | $23.03 | $47,910 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 720 | 0.03 | $21.06 | $43,810 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 36,930 | 6.38 | $15.69 | $32,630 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting | 4,620 | 2.17 | $20.89 | $43,450 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | 530 | 1.18 | $22.66 | $47,130 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | 4,200 | 0.83 | $19.51 | $40,580 |
| Other Personal Services | 870 | 0.37 | $23.03 | $47,910 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | 380 | 0.11 | $36.64 | $76,210 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 50 | 0.01 | $30.85 | $64,170 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | 70 | 0.08 | $26.27 | $54,640 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 90 | 0.02 | $25.47 | $52,980 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 80 | 0.02 | $25.26 | $52,540 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,830 | 0.35 | 0.80 | $20.19 | $41,990 |
| Texas | 4,450 | 0.44 | 1.03 | $15.56 | $32,370 |
| New York | 3,800 | 0.46 | 1.06 | $23.38 | $48,630 |
| Florida | 3,300 | 0.47 | 1.08 | $15.19 | $31,580 |
| Illinois | 2,790 | 0.51 | 1.18 | $21.74 | $45,220 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 500 | 0.87 | 2.02 | $15.03 | $31,260 |
| Indiana | 1,730 | 0.64 | 1.48 | $13.31 | $27,680 |
| Nevada | 700 | 0.63 | 1.47 | $19.18 | $39,900 |
| Missouri | 1,500 | 0.58 | 1.35 | $12.65 | $26,310 |
| Utah | 650 | 0.57 | 1.32 | $14.14 | $29,400 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 250 | 0.39 | 0.92 | $26.98 | $56,110 |
| Connecticut | 560 | 0.35 | 0.82 | $25.87 | $53,810 |
| New York | 3,800 | 0.46 | 1.06 | $23.38 | $48,630 |
| Illinois | 2,790 | 0.51 | 1.18 | $21.74 | $45,220 |
| Virginia | 1,260 | 0.36 | 0.83 | $20.86 | $43,390 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 2,520 | 0.51 | 1.18 | $26.41 | $54,940 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division | 1,990 | 0.56 | 1.31 | $23.41 | $48,690 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 1,470 | 0.59 | 1.37 | $15.97 | $33,220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,310 | 0.34 | 0.80 | $26.37 | $54,840 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | 1,250 | 0.57 | 1.32 | $13.49 | $28,050 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,010 | 0.60 | 1.40 | $22.03 | $45,820 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 860 | 0.43 | 1.01 | $14.80 | $30,780 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 780 | 0.43 | 1.01 | $16.69 | $34,720 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 760 | 0.33 | 0.78 | $26.33 | $54,760 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 750 | 0.45 | 1.06 | $22.62 | $47,050 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | 120 | 2.30 | 5.36 | $12.09 | $25,150 |
| Salisbury, MD | 60 | 1.21 | 2.83 | $10.38 | $21,590 |
| Framingham, MA NECTA Division | 180 | 1.19 | 2.76 | $15.51 | $32,260 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 60 | 1.13 | 2.63 | $14.16 | $29,450 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 60 | 1.13 | 2.62 | $17.83 | $37,090 |
| Rapid City, SD | 60 | 1.04 | 2.42 | $13.04 | $27,130 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 50 | 1.02 | 2.37 | $9.16 | $19,050 |
| Altoona, PA | 60 | 0.99 | 2.32 | $15.96 | $33,210 |
| Casper, WY | 40 | 0.97 | 2.27 | $12.84 | $26,700 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 40 | 0.97 | 2.25 | $11.14 | $23,170 |