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Job outlook for image editors in the United States
Are image editor jobs in demand?
Image editor job and salary trends over time
Image editor jobs over time
Image editor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 162 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 170 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 175 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 175 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 177 | 0.00% |
Average image editor salary over time
Image editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,494 | $24.28 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $48,877 | $23.50 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $47,372 | $22.78 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $46,807 | $22.50 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $45,564 | $21.91 | +2.1% |
Image editor jobs by state
Most common states for image editors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 85 | 12% |
| 2 | New York | 19,849,399 | 444 | 2% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 137 | 2% |
| 4 | California | 39,536,653 | 242 | 1% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 83 | 1% |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 66 | 1% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 54 | 1% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 53 | 1% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 47 | 1% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 36 | 1% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 21 | 1% |
| 12 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 11 | 1% |
| 13 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 11 | 1% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 10 | 1% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 9 | 1% |
| 16 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 9 | 1% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 8 | 1% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 4 | 1% |
| 19 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 4 | 1% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 42 | 0% |
Image Editor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of image editor experts
Georgia State University
California University of Pennsylvania
Bucknell University
Ferrum College
What skills stand out on Image Editor resumes?
Jill Frank: The ability to use all camera functions and fully understand the tools, both analog and digital. Having an artistic vision and creative drive that makes your portfolio unique and memorable. Confidence with lighting, managing large photoshoots, awareness of the current trends in photography, ability to handle deadlines and difficult situations.
What soft skills should all Image Editors possess?
Jill Frank: Listening, being observant, trusting your vision. It is always important to work well in teams and have the patience to be a good collaborator.
What skills will help Image Editors earn the most?
Jill Frank: This is probably too abstract a question for the field of art, but I will try my best: the better you are at taking photographs and marketing yourself & the better you are at moving seamlessly across different media and speaking to the relevant issues, the greater your success will be.
What type of skills will young Image Editors need?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: College graduates in 2021 and beyond, need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.
Sarah Bell
Senior Associate Director, CounselingBucknell University
Center for Career Advancement
How do you envision technology impacting Image Editors in the next 5 years?
Sarah Bell: As mentioned in #2, English majors go into many fields, and technology is affecting most of them now. We will likely always need creators, editors, and researchers of content, which will certainly make English majors useful in a variety of fields, due to (or in spite of) the technology advances. Experience in learning and utilizing a variety of software, platforms, and social media tools will only enhance their ability to complete their work in an effective and efficient manner in a variety of work settings.
What general advice would you give to an Image Editor?
Allison Harl Ph.D.: Develop as many multimedia skills as possible. Writing in the 21st century is about visual rhetoric as well as just words on a page.