Photographers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Photographers: Photograph persons, subjects, merchandise, or other commercial products. May develop negatives and produce finished prints. Include scientific photographers, aerial photographers, and photojournalists.
Photographers held about 129,000 jobs in 2004. More than half were self-employed, a much higher proportion than for most occupations. Some self-employed photographers have contracts with advertising agencies, magazine publishers, or other businesses to do individual projects for a set fee, while others operate portrait studios or provide photographs to stock-photo agencies.
Most salaried photographers work in portrait or commercial photography studios; most of the others work for newspapers, magazines, and advertising agencies. Photographers work in all areas of the country, but most are employed in metropolitan areas.
Median annual earnings of salaried photographers were $26,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,380 and $37,370. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of salaried photographers were $32,800 for newspapers and periodicals and $23,100 for other professional, scientific, and technical services.
Salaried photographers—more of whom work full time—tend to earn more than those who are self-employed. Because most freelance and portrait photographers purchase their own equipment, they incur considerable expense acquiring and maintaining cameras and accessories. Unlike news and commercial photographers, few fine arts photographers are successful enough to support themselves solely through their art.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Photographers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Photographers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Manufacturing employment: 380 mean earnings: $43,070 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,750 | $29,130 | $41,670 | $54,690 | $68,430 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 210 mean earnings: $37,420 | $17,890 | $25,360 | $32,800 | $49,060 | $58,200 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 40 mean earnings: $46,150 | $24,480 | $36,780 | $45,380 | $57,650 | $68,670 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 80 mean earnings: $56,140 | $38,590 | $47,270 | $55,310 | $66,670 | $76,770 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 170 mean earnings: $34,130 (EC) (def) (IG) | $16,740 | $22,720 | $33,040 | $42,800 | $52,760 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 120 mean earnings: $32,520 | $14,940 | $21,000 | $30,000 | $41,110 | $49,940 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 40 mean earnings: $38,650 | $20,900 | $25,860 | $40,190 | $47,740 | $56,990 |
| Retail Trade employment: 750 mean earnings: $34,770 (EC) (def) (IG) | $15,600 | $20,350 | $29,280 | $47,760 | $64,530 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 200 mean earnings: $35,910 | $18,030 | $21,470 | $29,050 | $51,930 | $67,160 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 210 mean earnings: $27,790 | $12,970 | $16,430 | $23,350 | $30,340 | $60,940 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 290 mean earnings: $37,420 | $16,670 | $23,480 | $34,380 | $49,790 | $59,990 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 80 mean earnings: $29,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $15,110 | $16,980 | $25,170 | $37,560 | $51,270 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation employment: 30 mean earnings: $18,330 | $14,460 | $15,320 | $16,760 | $19,360 | $29,380 |
| Information employment: 11,810 mean earnings: $37,200 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,840 | $24,860 | $32,960 | $45,160 | $61,570 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 6,120 mean earnings: $37,230 | $18,720 | $24,190 | $33,360 | $46,740 | $61,790 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,960 | $28,970 | $30,190 | $32,230 | $34,270 | $35,490 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 4,100 mean earnings: $36,060 | $17,730 | $23,390 | $32,300 | $44,050 | $57,640 |
| Other Information Services employment: 390 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 90 mean earnings: $35,100 (EC) (def) (IG) | $15,370 | $22,180 | $36,490 | $45,650 | $53,490 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 40 mean earnings: $29,150 | $12,890 | $16,750 | $21,890 | $41,840 | $53,280 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 70 mean earnings: $31,650 (EC) (def) (IG) | $16,010 | $22,390 | $31,470 | $41,250 | $45,330 |
| Real Estate employment: 70 mean earnings: $31,610 | $15,810 | $21,770 | $32,010 | $41,290 | $45,380 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 39,980 mean earnings: $29,020 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,780 | $17,200 | $22,780 | $33,360 | $48,480 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 39,980 mean earnings: $29,020 | $14,780 | $17,200 | $22,780 | $33,360 | $48,480 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 340 mean earnings: $48,660 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,780 | $32,410 | $43,340 | $60,910 | $80,530 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 340 mean earnings: $48,660 | $23,780 | $32,410 | $43,340 | $60,910 | $80,530 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 640 mean earnings: $34,040 (EC) (def) (IG) | $16,760 | $21,640 | $32,160 | $41,110 | $54,990 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 640 mean earnings: $34,040 | $16,760 | $21,640 | $32,160 | $41,110 | $54,990 |
| Educational Services employment: 930 mean earnings: $38,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,460 | $30,300 | $37,030 | $44,530 | $55,070 |
| Educational Services employment: 930 mean earnings: $38,300 | $24,460 | $30,300 | $37,030 | $44,530 | $55,070 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 700 mean earnings: $37,490 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,850 | $28,950 | $37,790 | $45,530 | $55,000 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 280 mean earnings: $38,830 | $28,250 | $31,780 | $39,270 | $45,300 | $52,780 |
| Hospitals employment: 390 mean earnings: $37,090 | $18,350 | $24,210 | $37,340 | $46,460 | $56,960 |
| Social Assistance employment: 30 mean earnings: $30,420 | $16,690 | $21,820 | $30,510 | $34,170 | $37,640 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 570 mean earnings: $33,640 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,710 | $18,980 | $30,830 | $42,860 | $62,140 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 360 mean earnings: $32,220 | $14,430 | $18,170 | $25,110 | $40,470 | $64,590 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 140 mean earnings: $38,680 | $19,950 | $28,210 | $37,500 | $46,910 | $59,580 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 70 mean earnings: $30,990 | $13,730 | $15,760 | $31,350 | $44,370 | $52,930 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 40 mean earnings: $24,850 (EC) (def) (IG) | $16,070 | $20,610 | $24,870 | $29,330 | $33,860 |
| Accommodation employment: 30 mean earnings: $24,540 | $15,550 | $19,630 | $23,840 | $30,220 | $34,230 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 1,160 mean earnings: $27,620 (EC) (def) (IG) | $16,330 | $19,500 | $24,300 | $32,900 | $46,160 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 1,090 mean earnings: $27,270 | $16,470 | $19,540 | $24,080 | $32,130 | $45,550 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 60 mean earnings: $33,480 | $14,960 | $18,240 | $31,440 | $43,300 | $56,970 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 540 mean earnings: $39,740 (def) (IG) | $25,960 | $31,490 | $38,100 | $47,560 | $56,120 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 540 mean earnings: $39,740 | $25,960 | $31,490 | $38,100 | $47,560 | $56,120 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.