Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for news photojournalists in the United States
Are news photojournalist jobs in demand?
News photojournalist job and salary trends over time
News photojournalist jobs over time
News photojournalist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 100 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 107 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 94 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 98 | 0.00% |
Average news photojournalist salary over time
News photojournalist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $58,137 | $27.95 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $56,165 | $27.00 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $54,553 | $26.23 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $52,054 | $25.03 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $50,004 | $24.04 | +4.0% |
News photojournalist jobs by state
Most common states for news photojournalists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 22 | 3% |
| 2 | New York | 19,849,399 | 111 | 1% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 48 | 1% |
| 4 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 31 | 1% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 19 | 1% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 16 | 1% |
| 7 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 12 | 1% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 10 | 1% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 8 | 1% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 5 | 1% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 28 | 0% |
| 12 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 22 | 0% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 17 | 0% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 14 | 0% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 7 | 0% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 4 | 0% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 3 | 0% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 3 | 0% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 1 | 0% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 1 | 0% |
News Photojournalist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of news photojournalist experts
Washington and Lee University
Towson University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Belmont University
Miami University
University of Georgia
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
University of New Mexico
Fairfield University
University of Kentucky
University of Nevada - Reno
Bates College
University of Kansas
Cal Poly
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Kansas
Quinnipiac University
East-West University
Rider University
What general advice would you give to a News Photojournalist?
Kevin Finch: Comfort with all forms of technology-the obvious answer. In corporate boardrooms all over America, the suits view you as a techno-genius even though they've never met you. That's because they make that generalization about everyone in your generation. It may be unfair, but it's often the price of admission. So, be conversant in many social media platforms. Learn all you can about AI. Be able to explain algorithms to your new colleagues and bosses. They will probably end up learning from you.
What News Photojournalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kevin Finch: Don't panic. There are lots of jobs available, especially in TV news and in new startups-newsletters, podcasts, web-based operations. But most jobs in communications do not hire a year in advance like some high-level business jobs. You are NOT behind if you don't have a job right now. You'll get one.
Be honest with yourself. Don't apply for jobs you don't really want just for the sake of trying to get something. Picture yourself on the other end of a phone call when a manager says, "Congratulations, you're hired." If the thought makes you nervous or sad, don't apply. Don't waste their time and yours. Sometimes that's about a region of the country where you'd prefer not to live. Sometimes, it's about a particular city, or certain ownership. Whatever your own objection, listen to your inner voice and don't apply.
Bring your family into the conversation. It's YOUR job and your career, but things will go better if you explain what your work hours will be. Some family compromises include asking you to take a job within a two-hour flight of home-or a six-hour car ride. Also, educate them on the likelihood that you may move three times before you're 30. It's the nature of journalism and related careers.
What News Photojournalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Pallavi Guha Ph.D.: Building a portfolio while in school, which will 'show not tell' your prospective employers that you have already done what is required for the job.
What will help News Photojournalists increase their earning potential?
Pallavi Guha Ph.D.: Mastering all trades, for example, if you are journalist, you need reporting skills, social media story telling skills, basic photography/video skills, and editing skills. Using storyboard and graphics such Canva, and effectively using social media for sourcing, interviews, checking accuracy, and promoting stories will become irreplaceable.
Natalie Becerra
Career Development SpecialistUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln
Journalism
What will help News Photojournalists increase their earning potential?
Natalie Becerra: In general, I encourage new graduates to stay curious. After you graduate it feels like you're standing on the edge of a cliff in a way, like the road has stopped. There are no more set milestones for you unless you set them yourself. A way to combat that existential feeling is to be curious. Some things you can do are 1) figure out who you are as an individual, 2) ask yourself what you truly enjoy doing for fun, 3) try to learn new skills or gain new experiences, and 4) if you're future-oriented or goal-oriented ask yourself what you want to plan for. The biggest adjustment for me after graduation was figuring out what to do outside of work. I had no hobbies and no idea what I liked to do for fun because I was working or studying outside of classes all through college. So do that self-reflection and act on the self-discoveries!
Assistant Professor Dorren Robinson
Assistant Professor of JournalismBelmont University
Journalism
What News Photojournalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Assistant Professor Dorren Robinson: Now more than ever, we need journalists to hold those in power accountable and write unbiased, ethically sourced stories. Journalists can inform, educate and help create a more informed society that leads to a strong democracy. Journalists can uncover corruption, lift up the marginalized and explain complex international issues as well as telling audiences about their local communities.
What will help News Photojournalists increase their earning potential?
Assistant Professor Dorren Robinson: A journalist, whether print, digital or broadcast tells relevant, important stories happening in his or her community. Journalists strive to be fast, but also must provide accurate, objective, verifiable stories grounded in research and ethical reporting. Journalists should tell you what to think about, but not what to think.
Rosemary Pennington
Associate Professor & Area Coordinator of Journalism Miami UniversityMiami University
Journalism
What general advice would you give to a News Photojournalist?
Rosemary Pennington: This one is harder, but I do think skill stacking is always a good idea. Someone who can, for example, write well, can work with data, and can take good photos is a more versatile reporter and could demand a higher salary than a reporter entering the field who has gotten really good at just one of those things. Building a deep resume through internships and working in student media can also help as it shows you are an experienced reporter who understands the fundamentals of the profession.
What will help News Photojournalists increase their earning potential?
Rosemary Pennington: I think it's important for individuals to cast as wide a net as possible when looking for that first journalism job. The worst thing a new journalist can do right now is cut off options. Apply for TV jobs, online jobs, print jobs -- apply where the jobs are. Most journalism curricula are training graduates to work in a multitude of environments and many employers are willing to provide on the job training around specific skills if the potential employee has a good news foundation. Getting that first job can be the hardest step in building a journalism career, so being open to what media you work in, and where you work, can help you land that first gig.
Dr. Keith Herndon Ph.D.
Professor of Practice and Executive Director of the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership.University of Georgia
Journalism
What will help News Photojournalists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Keith Herndon Ph.D.: Don't be afraid to negotiate your starting salary. Young journalists have a lot to offer newsrooms through social media skills and a willingness to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Technology skills have value and should not be undersold. Also, young journalism students should not discount the value of their student media and internship experiences. Young journalists must use everything on their resumes to show how they bring value to their position and ask to be compensated fairly for the work they will contribute to the newsroom's success.
Rodger Johnson
Visiting Lecturer of Practice in Public RelationsIndiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Department of Journalism and Public Relations
What hard/technical skills are most important for News Photojournalists?
Rodger Johnson: Writing and photography, or videography, or having all three are important hard skills to have. One's writing needs to be impeccable, not just in mechanics, but in how the journalist writes to objectively inform and to move the emotions of their readers.
Kate Cunningham
Multimedia communication instructorUniversity of New Mexico
Department of Communication and Journalism
What skills will help News Photojournalists earn the most?
Kate Cunningham: In some cases, more specialized skills like website development or data science can be useful toward earning more. Some newsrooms offer bilingual bonuses for staff with fluency in other languages.
Leadership ability and positions in management also could lead to higher salaries within the field.
Matt Tullis
Director of Digital Journalism, Co-Director of Sports Media, Assistant Professor of Practice of Digital Journalism, Author of Running With Ghosts, Host and Producer of Gangrey: The PodcastFairfield University
College of Arts & Sciences
What skills stand out on News Photojournalist resumes?
Matt Tullis: More than anything, what stands for a recent journalism graduate isn't on the resume. It's the clips they have of articles and stories they've written for their student newspaper/website and during their internship. Those in the journalism industry want to see that recent graduates have already worked as reporters while in college. I mentioned clips from an internship, and that is also incredibly important.
Scoobie Ryan
Associate DirectorUniversity of Kentucky
School of Journalism and Media
What skills stand out on News Photojournalist resumes?
Scoobie Ryan: Traditional skills on a journalist's resume are important-writing, editing, and storytelling-but we're seeing demand for things like the ability to fly a drone and use it to gather video. A student who has an FAA drone pilot's license on a resume plus the ability to shoot and edit video shot using a drone stands out. As a result, our Drone Journalism class is very popular.
Students who can use a variety of hardware and software are in demand for MMJ jobs. Our students get experience with Canon DSLRs, Sony Mirrorless, 360 cameras, GoPro Fusions, and more. They learn to use the Adobe Creative Suite. Students also need to be able to shoot, edit and post a story using just a smartphone.
Knowledge of social media is essential-not just how to use it, but its rhythms and pace. Students must understand how to promote a story on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, livestream it on Facebook, and post to YouTube.
Producers are in high demand. They must be able to know how a story will develop and stay ahead of it. They need to write well on deadlines, work collaboratively, stay calm, and multi-task.
It helps if they're platform agnostic. We encourage them not to think of themselves as print reporters, broadcasters, or web producers. Journalists who can find the truth, verify it and present it using the platform best suited to reach their audience are in demand.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for News Photojournalists in the next 3-5 years?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.: Having good computer skills and phone skills are a must-anything dealing with AI as well.
What general advice would you give to a News Photojournalist?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.: A couple of things: make sure that you have used your time wisely as an undergrad. Often, students expect to get great jobs out of college, but they're not equipped because their skillset is not up to par. So take advantage of internships, job opportunities. Also, be willing to interview multiple times. This will help those to be more comfortable during an interview.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for News Photojournalists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Daniel Sanford: What I've seen in college students, during this period of intense upheaval, is a stronger desire than ever to engage with the world in positive ways. More than ever, the world needs people to work to effect positive change. That happens in fields that are organized around the idea of impacting society and nature in positive ways (e.g., medicine, social advocacy, community organizing, conservation), and those fields are also growing and great places to start a career. But it also happens everywhere, and now more than ever, through writing. The ability to use effective rhetoric (the art of persuasion, built around understanding one's audience) in social media and web writing is incredibly important in engaging with the challenges the world is facing. It's also highly employable!
Dr. Tara Welch
ProfessorUniversity of Kansas
Department of Humanities - Classics
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on News Photojournalists?
Dr. Tara Welch: There will be an enduring impact on everyone, graduates included. Our graduates are facing a slow economy and a transformation in higher education, but Classics and Archaeology majors are well trained for these circumstances. Classics is an interdisciplinary field and teaches us to look at problems and questions from a variety of perspectives, so Classics majors are versatile and adaptable. We also learn in Classics how to make the most of the limited, and often incomplete, remains of the ancient world. Reconstructing a toppled monument or understanding a fragmentary poem involves some sleuthing and a great deal of logic and critical thinking. Our majors read carefully and work carefully - and they don't shy from complex situations.
How do you envision technology impacting News Photojournalists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Tara Welch: Technology has already made the ancient world more available and accessible, and digital resources and research tools enable exciting new work to happen without the need to travel. Teachers are also becoming more effective at leading online and hybrid classes. Those are here to stay. In the present climate of social distancing and digital meetings, however, I see a craving for human interaction - those exchanges that remind us that we are spontaneous, creative, and responsive beings. No matter the technology, Classics (like all of the humanities) will always be about humans.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on News Photojournalists?
Eileen Buecher: I believe there will be an impact on all of us. Work will look differently as I see some of the creative initiatives higher education and industries have taken to keep people safe and support the economy. These may be integrated into how we provide services and do our jobs long-term. COVID teaches new graduates how to be resourceful, resilient, and flexible for both individual and uncertain times.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for News Photojournalists to find work opportunities?
Brant Houston: Any place with healthy nonprofit newsrooms and more than 250 (you can find them listed the Institute for Nonprofit News) across the country is an excellent place to look, and the pay is often more than at for-profits these days. One area where there are many nonprofits in Chicago.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on News Photojournalists?
Patricia Gaston: Yes, the coronavirus will have an enduring effect on graduates -- they are learning they must be resilient and roll with chaos and change. One of the "good" things about the pandemic is that post-COVID we will have an opportunity to make our world better. So they must be hopeful and ready for the change.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on News Photojournalists?
Richard Hanley: The pandemic will have a lasting impact on graduates as it is reshaping how people who don't need to be in a physical space work, and journalism isn't going to escape that. Many reporters are working remotely, and that may change the physical space known as the newsroom. That may not be a good thing, as informal, in-person conversations and quick questions to colleagues often lead to story ideas. The pandemic and events, such as the murder of George Floyd, have exposed gaps in the profession in terms of health reporting, and the need to make news organizations more diverse. With climate change accelerating, the need for valid information is now more critical than ever. These are the things that will shape journalism moving forward.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for News Photojournalists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Maria Polski Ph.D.: There is no technology more important than the human mind. Ability to think independently, to evaluate, to defer judgment, to investigate the origin of information will be practiced in a variety of technologies. Students and new graduates should be aiming to develop these abilities, regardless of which technology they use! The ability to evaluate the quality of information is, probably, the most important of them all.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for News Photojournalists in the next 3-5 years?
Aaron Moore Ph.D.: Any journalist must be adept and have strong digital editing skills. There are many platforms like Final Cut, for example - the platform doesn't matter - the ability of digital editing is a must.