Research Summary. In-depth analysis by the Zippia data science team has revealed the following details regarding photographer salaries across the United States for 2026:
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New York boasts the highest photographer salary at $56,937.
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Nevada records the lowest photographer salary at $20,532.
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The national average salary for photographers stands at $33,968.
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The national hourly wage for photographers is $16.33.
For further details, you can consult the specific methodology.
Background
Consistently highlighted in surveys across various demographics, salary remains the top priority for most individuals when considering their careers — particularly for those asking, “How much do photographers earn where I live?”
Numerous factors influence individual earning potential, but robust data on average photographer salaries by state, segmented by experience level, can provide valuable insight. While your specific city might differ from the state average, these figures offer a general overview of what to expect in terms of compensation.
The state with the highest average salary for photographers remains New York.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for photographer salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and present a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Photographers By State
| Rank | State | Average Photographer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $56,937 | $33,000 | $95,000 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $41,165 | $27,000 | $60,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $40,485 | $24,000 | $67,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $40,028 | $24,000 | $64,000 |
| 5 | Vermont | $39,517 | $25,000 | $60,000 |
| 6 | Alaska | $38,626 | $29,000 | $51,000 |
| 7 | California | $37,556 | $24,000 | $58,000 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $37,373 | $23,000 | $58,000 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $37,194 | $23,000 | $59,000 |
| 10 | Utah | $37,038 | $25,000 | $54,000 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $36,732 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 12 | Illinois | $36,527 | $23,000 | $56,000 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $36,454 | $25,000 | $52,000 |
| 14 | Maine | $35,707 | $23,000 | $53,000 |
| 15 | Washington | $35,531 | $24,000 | $51,000 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $35,083 | $20,000 | $59,000 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $34,197 | $22,000 | $52,000 |
| 18 | Maryland | $34,183 | $20,000 | $57,000 |
| 19 | Idaho | $33,964 | $23,000 | $49,000 |
| 20 | Colorado | $33,620 | $23,000 | $48,000 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $33,152 | $21,000 | $50,000 |
| 22 | Virginia | $32,992 | $20,000 | $53,000 |
| 23 | Montana | $32,409 | $23,000 | $45,000 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $32,091 | $22,000 | $46,000 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $31,570 | $21,000 | $47,000 |
| 26 | Oregon | $31,503 | $21,000 | $46,000 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $31,347 | $21,000 | $45,000 |
| 28 | Kansas | $31,320 | $21,000 | $45,000 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $31,215 | $18,000 | $52,000 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $30,689 | $21,000 | $44,000 |
| 31 | Texas | $29,945 | $20,000 | $44,000 |
| 32 | Michigan | $29,665 | $18,000 | $47,000 |
| 33 | Ohio | $29,277 | $18,000 | $47,000 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $29,272 | $19,000 | $43,000 |
| 35 | Alabama | $28,890 | $19,000 | $42,000 |
| 36 | Indiana | $28,666 | $18,000 | $44,000 |
| 37 | Georgia | $28,568 | $19,000 | $41,000 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $27,759 | $19,000 | $40,000 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $26,692 | $19,000 | $36,000 |
| 40 | Arizona | $26,348 | $17,000 | $39,000 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $26,034 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $25,710 | $16,000 | $39,000 |
| 43 | Delaware | $25,359 | $15,000 | $42,000 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | $24,964 | $15,000 | $40,000 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $24,762 | $16,000 | $36,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $24,410 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 47 | Iowa | $23,207 | $15,000 | $34,000 |
| 48 | Florida | $22,984 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 49 | Missouri | $22,485 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 50 | Nevada | $20,532 | $13,000 | $31,000 |
Methodology: Photographer Salary By State
To provide a comprehensive understanding of photographer compensation by state, Zippia aggregates data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We also incorporate actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team computes a weighted average from these inputs to establish the average pay for photographers by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data for photographers, with the highest-paid state receiving the top rank.
Photographer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for photographers?
The highest-paid state for photographers is New York, where the average salary is $56,937 per year.
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Which city offers the highest pay for photographers?
New York, NY provides the highest average salary for photographers at $57,095 per year.
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Which state has the lowest salary for photographers?
The state with the lowest salary for photographers is Nevada, with an average annual salary of $20,532.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
