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The differences between owner/photographers and photographer assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an owner/photographer and a photographer assistant. Additionally, an owner/photographer has an average salary of $39,992, which is higher than the $36,555 average annual salary of a photographer assistant.
The top three skills for an owner/photographer include adobe photoshop, portrait photography and customer service. The most important skills for a photographer assistant are adobe photoshop, photographic equipment, and photo shoots.
| Owner/Photographer | Photographer Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $39,992 | $36,555 |
| Hourly rate | $19.23 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 47,716 | 1,771 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An owner/photographer is responsible for developing digital photographic contents based on clients' needs and specifications by operating multiple photography equipment and photo editing software tools. Owner/photographers coordinate with the clients closely to update them with the progress of the project, ensuring that the deliverables meet the budget goals and the agreed timeframe. They also suggest the best places for the photoshoot for the client's approval. An owner/photographer must be highly creative and organized to achieve clients' satisfaction that would benefit their portfolios and attract more potential clients upon their former clients' recommendations.
Photographer Assistants help photographers in all aspects of their work. They carry and set up equipment, change lenses, and make small lighting adjustments while the model is holding a pose.
Owner/photographers and photographer assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Owner/Photographer | Photographer Assistant | |
| Average salary | $39,992 | $36,555 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $55,000 | Between $20,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an owner/photographer and a photographer assistant in terms of educational background:
| Owner/Photographer | Photographer Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Photography | Photography |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between owner/photographers' and photographer assistants' demographics:
| Owner/Photographer | Photographer Assistant | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |