How much does a photographer make?
Typical yearly pay for photographers in the United States.
median pay per year, about $3,722 a month or $21.47 an hour.
That's more than 18% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #82 of 100.
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| Pharmacy technician | $45,750 |
| Exterminator | $45,250 |
| Customer service rep | $44,770 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
| Forest conservation worker | $43,680 |
| Nursing assistant | $42,260 |
| Referee or umpire | $40,710 |
Similar jobs
- Sports coach or scout$47,320
- Referee or umpire$40,710
- Choreographer$55,310
- Interpreter or translator$60,170
- Graphic designer$62,960
- Theatrical makeup artist$97,150
How much does a photographer make per hour?
About $21.47 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming a photographer
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Photographers” (code 27-4021.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.