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Job outlook for photo journalists in the United States
Are photo journalist jobs in demand?
Photo journalist job and salary trends over time
Photo journalist jobs over time
Photo journalist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 133 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 141 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 150 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 132 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 138 | 0.00% |
Average photo journalist salary over time
Photo journalist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $74,263 | $35.70 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $71,744 | $34.49 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $69,684 | $33.50 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | $66,492 | $31.97 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $63,875 | $30.71 | +4.0% |
Photo journalist jobs by state
Most common states for photo journalists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 5 | 1% |
| 2 | New York | 19,849,399 | 39 | 0% |
| 3 | California | 39,536,653 | 35 | 0% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 32 | 0% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 15 | 0% |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 11 | 0% |
| 7 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 8 | 0% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 8 | 0% |
| 9 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 8 | 0% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 5 | 0% |
| 11 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 3 | 0% |
| 12 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 3 | 0% |
| 13 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 3 | 0% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1 | 0% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 1 | 0% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1 | 0% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 1 | 0% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
Photo Journalist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of photo journalist experts
The University of Findlay
Georgia State University
New Mexico State University
Metropolitan State University of Denver
American University
Butler University
Towson University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Miami University
Midland College
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
University of New Mexico
Fairfield University
University of Kentucky
Wayne State University
University of Central Missouri
The University of Kansas
University of Nevada - Reno
University of Kansas
Cal Poly
What Photo Journalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Amy Rogan: Journalists do a number of things and no two days look alike. Journalists need to have sound, solid news judgement and know their audience and what their audience needs to know. They pitch stories to their editors, producers, or managers, then they research their story topic, find the appropriate interviews and set those up. Once they complete the interviews and gather all their research they then have to craft a story that captures the readers’ or viewers’ attention and serves the community. Typically, that is just one day of work unless you’re working on a special project. Multimedia skills are in high demand because journalists are on so many platforms these days. You need to know how to write for print, digital, and broadcast. And, if you know how to shoot and edit video as well as write, your name goes to the top of the list.
What will help Photo Journalists increase their earning potential?
Amy Rogan: People working in journalism probably most dislike the hours and the pay but it’s truly one of the most rewarding fields to work in. It can be stressful but also exciting and challenging. Whether at the local level or a larger stage, it’s truly a service to your community to provide vital information.
What Photo Journalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Helen Cauley Ph.D.: The need for people who can tell accurate, engrossing stories in a variety of media is increasing. That means being able to write concisely, speak with authority and take photos/video/sound that engage an audience. Don’t expect to have a camera crew or editor at your elbow. The more proficient you can be in mastering those tasks, the more valuable you will be.
What Photo Journalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Darren Phillips M.A.: First and foremost, I would advise journalists starting out to be curious and to read, read, and read some more. The best storytellers are voracious consumers of information — credible information — and they’re infinitely curious about world events, politics, history, and the like. Knowledge is power. It’s also marketability. Be an expert, or at least know enough about the wider world to be able to bring relevant context and nuance to your work. This requires you to read. For journalism students still in school, this also means taking elective courses in government and economics, geography, and other subjects outside your major that will help you make greater sense of complex topics. Reading and just a life-long commitment to learning are so important.
What will help Photo Journalists increase their earning potential?
Darren Phillips M.A.: Maximizing salary potential as a media professional starts with everything I’ve already mentioned. Journalists and even PR and advertising professionals must be extremely well informed on a broad range of topics. This starts with reading and just being a voracious media consumer. This also requires one to think critically, to consume media from disparate sources, to not shy away from contrarian viewpoints, and to work hard and in good faith to synthesize information responsibly. This ties in with maintaining strict allegiance to industry best practices including media ethics. Reputation is everything. Make sure your employers, prospective employers, and clients all understand and appreciate your professional integrity and just your commitment to truth and accuracy. Moreover, embrace change, lean into technological change, and become a bit of a techno geek. Work hard making contacts and building a professional network. Work hard, generally. Hard work goes a long way in any vocation. Beyond that, attend industry conferences, pay close attention to your online presence, curate your social media profiles carefully and put some real time and thought into things like your LinkedIn profile and online portfolio. Lastly, don’t be put off by rejection. Rejection comes with the territory in any competitive career field. Believe in yourself, stay positive, stay open minded, learn all you can, read like crazy, keep grinding, and success will follow eventually.
What Photo Journalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alfredo Sanchez ACUE: Students will need to become more digital and Social Media savvy. As digital platforms continue to reshape how audiences consume news and information, digital and social media proficiency will be increasingly crucial. However, Multimedia Storytelling must be a cornerstone of our industry. Integrating multimedia elements such as video, audio, graphics, and interactive elements will become more prevalent in broadcast journalism. Professionals who can tell compelling stories using a combination of multimedia formats will be in high demand. I always encourage students to enroll in Data Visualization courses. The ability to extract meaningful insights from data and present them visually engagingly will help broadcasters provide deeper insights and context to their stories. We must remember Mobile Journalism (MoJo). Using your mobile devices to capture, edit, and publish news content will become a standard for journalists. Last but not least, journalists must build meaningful connections with audiences through interactive storytelling, live chats, audience polls, and user-generated content will become increasingly important. Broadcasters who can foster active engagement and dialogue with their audience will be able to cultivate loyal viewership and build community around their content.
Assistant Amy Eisman
Assistant ProfessorAmerican University
Arts, Entertainment, And Media Management
What general advice would you give to a Photo Journalist?
Assistant Amy Eisman: One skill is easy: be flexible. The technology is changing at lightning speed. At the moment, it helps to be strong at data journalism and understanding emergent technology, such as AI. Topic areas of interest include climate coverage, health and education. It also helps to be a great team player; the speed of news means you rarely work alone. Overall, make sure you embrace the basics in the field: accuracy, fairness, transparency, independence and accountability. Be a solid writer and an even better editor and producer. No one can predict what is next for technology. Employers therefore will look for people who uphold the values of the past, are enthusiastic about the present and are curious about the future.
What general advice would you give to a Photo Journalist?
Joseph Valenzano III: Beginning a career must always come with the understanding that your first job is not your career, and it won’t pay you as much as you might think. Maximizing your potential in this scenario depends on many variables, some of which you cannot control. The ones you can control are the quality of your writing samples, having a record of published work in outlets (including the school paper), the clarity of your resume, and the strength of your interview. It also would be helpful to do homework on the market, the employer, and any data on comparisons you can collect. This can help you calibrate your expectations in advance of any offer. One don’t in this process: don’t expect to have a simple 9-5 job; going the extra mile when asked, and even when not asked, can help demonstrate your value to the employer and accelerate the rate of your growth in the industry as well.
What will help Photo Journalists increase their earning potential?
Joseph Valenzano III: In the developing field of journalism some classic skills will never cease to be important, but new skills will also become more essential. Writing and the ability to edit your own work will always be crucial to a journalist, as will fact-checking and copyediting. Clean, accurate, engaging writing and the ability to interview and engage with sources and stories will always be the coin of the realm. That said, more and more journalists need to be well versed in multimedia skills and social media. Writing in these formats is different than writing in column spaces for a paper, and so learning how to translate stories to these media is becoming a skill that separates good journalists from great ones. Additionally, video skills such as editing and shooting for short formats is also becoming more important as journalists are often asked to do most, if not all, of the tasks associated with producing a video story.
What general advice would you give to a Photo Journalist?
Pallavi Guha Ph.D.: Mastering all trades, for example, if you are a journalist, you need reporting skills, social media storytelling skills, basic photography/video skills, and editing skills. Using storyboards and graphics such as Canva, and effectively using social media for sourcing, interviews, checking accuracy, and promoting stories will become irreplaceable.
What Photo Journalist 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.
Natalie Becerra
Career Development SpecialistUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln
Journalism
What will help Photo Journalists 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!
Rosemary Pennington
Associate Professor & Area Coordinator of Journalism Miami UniversityMiami University
Journalism
What general advice would you give to a Photo Journalist?
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 Photo Journalists 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.
Stacey Hewitt
Communications CoordinatorMidland College
What skills stand out on Photo Journalist resumes?
Stacey Hewitt: The skill that stands out on Multimedia Journalist's resume is the ability to wear many hats/handle multiple responsibilities. Gone are the days where TV news reporters had photogs that took the video for them, and they just asked the questions. Journalists are doing everything all by themselves. I'm talking - you are responsible for coming up with your own story ideas/pitches, going live on Facebook before news shows, editing a story for news shows, cutting a different version for the web, and maybe even writing a print version for a newspaper partner. Showcase all your experiences, especially web and video editing experience, as everything is becoming more visual on video platforms. Even if you aren't responsible for web or editing in your current job, try to dabble in it so you can put it on your resume. Or go back to school and take a class in video and video editing.
What soft skills should all Photo Journalists possess?
Stacey Hewitt: Communication is obviously a very important soft skill. You will be communicating on various levels with your coworkers, newsmakers, interviewees, and viewers, and each is a slightly nuanced brand of communication. I would brand your communication with viewers as a very different kind of communication. It's more tease-worthy and casual as opposed to a straightforward, formal English essay. But you must know what information you are after and how to write and spell correctly when formally requesting interviews with high-profile newsmakers.
Problem-solving is another important soft skill. As you probably already know, these days, technology malfunctions all the time. You must have workarounds and think on your feet when something happens because deadlines are still deadlines.
Multimedia Journalists also must be creative. These days storytelling has become an art. Sometimes the same old way of telling a story is okay, but sometimes taking a chance and doing something different can really catch on and stand out. For example, if you start a Facebook poll on a story you did about mask-wearing, you could really help take it to new heights. You must be willing to try new things and ultimately, sometimes, fail.
Not everyone will like you or your stories, so multimedia journalists have to have thick skin. Your boss and your viewers will have opinions, and they aren't always going to be nice. Try to incorporate some stuff sometimes and sometimes stick to your guns.
Finally, be a mega-media consumer yourself. You need to know how to repurpose the stuff you do for many different platforms and different things (lengths) work on each. The best way to know what works is to have a healthy diet of media yourself. This soft skill is what intro communications classes like Midland College's COMM 1307 Introduction to mass communications do best. Classes like this can encourage students to become critical media consumers by looking at the development and current trends of print media, broadcasting, advertising, and public relations.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Photo Journalists?
Stacey Hewitt: I'm a former broadcast journalist, so I'm biased, but I would say the most important hard/technical skill is being visual. Whether that's taking still photos or video. You can write a Pulitzer Prize-winning story, but it's becoming increasingly hard to tell a story without some sort of identifying visual to brand it.
What skills will help Photo Journalists earn the most?
Stacey Hewitt: In my experience, multimedia journalists don't usually make a lot of money. If you are lucky enough to skew towards management for public relations/marketing, those jobs can pay better. In my opinion and analysis, those jobs can do that because they are very data-driven: if you do an ad or a PR campaign, and it performs well, you can prove it and are therefore worth more. Yes, there are ratings in other areas, but it's harder to attribute to one person.
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 Photo Journalists?
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 stand out on Photo Journalist resumes?
Kate Cunningham: The biggest thing that will stand out on a reporters' resume is experience. Editors who are hiring for a position in the newsroom are looking for someone who has spent time reporting already -- whether they know how to do a difficult interview, find a document, or write a story on deadline. That type of experience lays the groundwork for skills that can be taught and refined later.
At the same time, having what used to be considered "extra" skills like photo and video editing and social media management are also increasingly important for reporters because of the digital and social nature of so much of journalism today. An editor might look more favorably at a resume with those skills if paired with reporting and writing experience.
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 hard/technical skills are most important for Photo Journalists?
Matt Tullis: Journalism graduates need to know how to shoot and edit videos. It doesn't matter if they're going to work at a newspaper or a website or a TV station. They need to be able to shoot and edit videos and do it well. We live in a visual world now, and those are skills every journalist needs.
What skills stand out on Photo Journalist 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.
What soft skills should all Photo Journalists possess?
Matt Tullis: Anyone who wants to do journalism professionally has to be able to talk with people, all sorts of people. They have to be a self-starter; someone who sees an idea and will go after it immediately. And they need to network, even while they are still in college. Follow the journalists you would like to emulate on Twitter. Reach out to them and tell them who you are. And anytime someone from the journalism industry comes to campus, go to their events and talk with them if possible.
Scoobie Ryan
Associate DirectorUniversity of Kentucky
School of Journalism and Media
What skills stand out on Photo Journalist 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 are the biggest trends we'll see in the Photo Journalist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Stine Eckert Ph.D.: Recent graduates are having an extra tough time to find jobs during the pandemic. Graduates reach back out to professors to help them and to forward inquiries from media for hiring. Some graduates are considering graduate school to bridge over this difficult time and add to their skill sets.
What soft skills should all Photo Journalists possess?
Dr. Stine Eckert Ph.D.: Outstanding professional communication skills are really important, being able to build a network, staying in touch with peers, colleagues, former internship sites, professors, etc. to build a name for oneself. It's important to be pro-active, reliable, and nimble to take up opportunities that come along to add on to one's experiences.
What's a day at work look like for a Photo Journalist?
Dr. Stine Eckert Ph.D.: Very different depending on the many different work places that graduates may be able to enter in various media and communication fields and across different companies during pandemic conditions. Benefits and work conditions are still largely dependent on specific employers and how they handle the pandemic conditions in each state in the U.S. including employers' support for home office in combination with helping employees handling care responsibilities, which disproportionately disadvantage women. It currently looks like the pandemic is going to be with us in media and communication fields in the near and mid-term future and its ebbs and flows will frame the range of work conditions that employers in the U.S. will make available to their employees. The conflict of care responsibilities and working from home will remain a big tension, especially for women employees who shoulder a disproportionate amount of household and care work, meaning no day may look exactly the same.
Joe Moore Ph.D.
Professor of Communication Program Coordinator, Digital Media ProductionUniversity of Central Missouri
Department of Communication
What Photo Journalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Joe Moore Ph.D.: Versatility is going to be critical. Radio stations are no longer 'mobile jukeboxes', television stations aren't just talking heads, newspapers aren't only in print. If you want to work for a newspaper, know how to produce a podcast. If you are going to work in radio, be able to develop and produce a video news package. If you are going to work in television, know AP Style and how to write. All upcoming journalists should consider themselves multimedia journalists who can write, film, record, edit and produce.
Steve Rottinghaus
Career and outreach coordinatorThe University of Kansas
William Allen White School of Journalism
What Photo Journalist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Steve Rottinghaus: It is important for a journalist to provide valuable information on current events to community members and hold public officials accountable. News consumption is in high demand.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Photo Journalists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.: The misconception is that there is no money in the communications fields. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our journalism majors are employed (in the last several years) at a higher rate than most of the other majors. My guess is starting salaries will continue to be on the rise.
Dr. Tara Welch
ProfessorUniversity of Kansas
Department of Humanities - Classics
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Photo Journalists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Tara Welch: The qualities I just described are applicable anywhere, anytime, and in any field. For those who wish to work directly in Classics - in teaching Latin or ancient history, for example, or in participating in archaeological digs - an advanced degree (Ph.D., MA, or MEd) is generally required. Most people who work directly in Classics relocate for their job, but most of our graduates work in other fields - publishing, museums, research and analysis, libraries, education, government, and politics, etc. - and can find good opportunities where they are.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Photo Journalists?
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.
How do you envision technology impacting Photo Journalists in the next 5 years?
Eileen Buecher: Technology is impacting all career fields with knowledge of various communication and business platforms, social media, and ways to network online in the future.