Photographer salary in United States
How much does a Photographer make in the United States?
Average base salary
The average salary for a photographer is $16.92 per hour in the United States. 5.7k salaries reported, updated at May 19, 2022.
Salaries by years of experience in the United States
| Years of experience | Per hour |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | |
| 1 to 2 years | |
| 3 to 5 years | |
| 6 to 9 years | |
| More than 10 years |
Top companies for Photographers in United States
Highest paying cities for Photographers in United States
Where can a Photographer earn more?
Compare salaries for Photographers in different locations
Best-paid skills and qualifications for Photographers
Adobe Lightroomearn +26.70% more
The jobs requiring this skill have increase by 400.05% since 2018. Photographers with this skill earn +26.70% more than the average base salary, which is $16.92 per hour.
| Year | Number of job openings on Indeed requiring this skill | Change from previous year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 329 | increase by 329 |
| 2013 | 1229 | increase by 273.56% |
| 2014 | 2405 | increase by 95.69% |
| 2015 | 1560 | decrease by 35.14% |
| 2016 | 2284 | increase by 46.41% |
| 2017 | 2587 | increase by 13.27% |
| 2018 | 3679 | increase by 42.21% |
| 2019 | 18397 | increase by 400.05% |
Top companies hiring Photographers with the recommended skill
More critical skills and qualifications that pay well
| Top Skills | Salary | Job openings | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114 jobs | 243 |
Most common benefits for Photographers
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Salary satisfaction
Based on 685 ratings41% of Photographers in the United States think their salaries are enough for the cost of living in their area.
How much do similar professions get paid in United States?
Photographers Assistant
868 job openingsAverage $31,506 per year
Freelance Photographer
257 job openingsAverage $36.93 per hour
Graphic Designer
8,335 job openingsAverage $19.92 per hour
Videographer
2,270 job openingsAverage $44.72 per hour
Photo Editor
1,252 job openingsAverage $17.77 per hour
Studio Assistant
5,846 job openingsAverage $14.34 per hour
How much should you be earning?
Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options. See more details
Get estimated pay range
Common questions about salaries for a Photographer
How can I know if I am being paid fairly as a photographer?
If you’re unsure about what salary is appropriate for a photographer, visit Indeed's Salary Calculator to get a free, personalized pay range based on your location, industry and experience.
How much do similar professions to a photographer get paid?
Check the below indeed career pages for the detailed pay ranges for the similar professions here:
