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Chief photographer vs staff photographer

The differences between chief photographers and staff photographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a chief photographer and a staff photographer. Additionally, a chief photographer has an average salary of $38,178, which is higher than the $37,094 average annual salary of a staff photographer.

The top three skills for a chief photographer include adobe photoshop, video production and ENG. The most important skills for a staff photographer are product photography, adobe photoshop, and event coverage.

Chief photographer vs staff photographer overview

Chief PhotographerStaff Photographer
Yearly salary$38,178$37,094
Hourly rate$18.35$17.83
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs14,12669,695
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age3939
Years of experience22

Chief photographer vs staff photographer salary

Chief photographers and staff photographers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chief PhotographerStaff Photographer
Average salary$38,178$37,094
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $71,000Between $21,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between chief photographer and staff photographer education

There are a few differences between a chief photographer and a staff photographer in terms of educational background:

Chief PhotographerStaff Photographer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorPhotographyPhotography
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Chief photographer vs staff photographer demographics

Here are the differences between chief photographers' and staff photographers' demographics:

Chief PhotographerStaff Photographer
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 79.7% Female, 20.3%Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between chief photographer and staff photographer duties and responsibilities

Chief photographer example responsibilities.

  • Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
  • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.
  • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.

Staff photographer example responsibilities.

  • Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
  • Operate specialized camera equipment, including DSLR cameras and lenses, as well as video lighting.
  • Contribute to website and Facebook pages, keeping followers inform about local news and events between weekly papers.
  • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.
  • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.

Chief photographer vs staff photographer skills

Common chief photographer skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 21%
  • Video Production, 18%
  • ENG, 12%
  • Visual Content, 6%
  • News Coverage, 5%
  • Local News, 4%
Common staff photographer skills
  • Product Photography, 33%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 28%
  • Event Coverage, 5%
  • Adobe Lightroom, 4%
  • Photo Shoots, 2%
  • Art Directors, 2%

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