Best cities for a Photographer
The best cities for photographers are Buffalo, NY, Cleveland, OH, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for photographers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for photographers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a photographer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for photographers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for photographers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a photographer. While the absolute best city for photographers is Buffalo, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for photographers in 2024.
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10 best cities for Photographers In 2025
1. Buffalo, NY
Total Photographer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $55,819 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 3.71 2. Cleveland, OH
Photographer Jobs in ClevelandTotal Photographer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $31,388 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 1.41 3. Sacramento, CA
Photographer Jobs in SacramentoTotal Photographer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $40,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location quotient: 1.29 4. Milwaukee, WI
Photographer Jobs in MilwaukeeTotal Photographer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $34,270 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 1.02 5. Stockton, CA
Total Photographer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $40,075 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location quotient: 1.26 6. Albuquerque, NM
Photographer Jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal Photographer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $31,685 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location quotient: 1.51 7. Fort Wayne, IN
Photographer Jobs in Fort WayneTotal Photographer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $30,385 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 1.15 8. New York, NY
Photographer Jobs in New YorkTotal Photographer jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $57,095 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 0.71 9. Anchorage, AK
Total Photographer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $38,700 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 0.88 10. Minneapolis, MN
Photographer Jobs in MinneapolisTotal Photographer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $41,120 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 0.77
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Best cities for photographers
- Buffalo, NY
- Cleveland, OH
- Sacramento, CA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Stockton, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- Fort Wayne, IN
- New York, NY
- Anchorage, AK
- Minneapolis, MN
- (17 photographer jobs)
- (10 photographer jobs)
- (12 photographer jobs)
- (9 photographer jobs)
- (2 photographer jobs)
- (9 photographer jobs)
- (3 photographer jobs)
- (104 photographer jobs)
- (2 photographer jobs)
- (13 photographer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a Photographer
| Rank | City | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo, NY | $55,819 | $33,000 | 256,902 | 17 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $31,388 | $19,000 | 385,809 | 10 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $40,255 | $25,000 | 495,234 | 12 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $34,270 | $21,000 | 595,047 | 9 |
| 5 | Stockton, CA | $40,075 | $25,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $31,685 | $21,000 | 559,277 | 9 |
| 7 | Fort Wayne, IN | $30,385 | $19,000 | 264,488 | 3 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $57,095 | $33,000 | 8,537,673 | 104 |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $38,700 | $28,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,120 | $27,000 | 413,651 | 13 |
| 11 | Lexington, KY | $33,402 | $21,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | $28,915 | $19,000 | 652,717 | 9 |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | $36,377 | $23,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $29,788 | $19,000 | 1,492,510 | 23 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $28,377 | $17,000 | 860,090 | 25 |
| 16 | Corpus Christi, TX | $29,367 | $19,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 17 | Louisville, KY | $33,133 | $21,000 | 597,337 | 5 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | $29,732 | $17,000 | 303,625 | 13 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,248 | $18,000 | 855,164 | 32 |
| 20 | Oakland, CA | $40,279 | $25,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 21 | Chula Vista, CA | $35,327 | $23,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 22 | Colorado Springs, CO | $33,240 | $22,000 | 465,101 | 17 |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $36,900 | $23,000 | 2,704,958 | 25 |
| 24 | Madison, WI | $33,660 | $21,000 | 252,551 | 5 |
| 25 | Omaha, NE | $31,489 | $21,000 | 446,970 | 7 |
| 26 | El Paso, TX | $31,150 | $20,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $30,157 | $20,000 | 1,317,929 | 30 |
| 28 | Aurora, CO | $33,667 | $23,000 | 361,710 | 6 |
| 29 | Baltimore, MD | $34,461 | $20,000 | 614,664 | 23 |
| 30 | Newark, NJ | $35,155 | $20,000 | 281,764 | 4 |
| 31 | Nashville, TN | $29,480 | $19,000 | 660,388 | 7 |
| 32 | Scottsdale, AZ | $26,510 | $17,000 | 246,645 | 9 |
| 33 | Hempstead, NY | $57,107 | $33,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $26,403 | $17,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 35 | Boston, MA | $39,883 | $24,000 | 673,184 | 13 |
| 36 | Tulsa, OK | $24,568 | $16,000 | 403,090 | 25 |
| 37 | Islip, NY | $57,040 | $33,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 38 | Oyster Bay, NY | $57,034 | $33,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 39 | Wichita, KS | $30,853 | $20,000 | 389,902 | 2 |
| 40 | Brookhaven, NY | $56,927 | $33,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 41 | Denver, CO | $33,705 | $23,000 | 693,060 | 26 |
| 42 | San Jose, CA | $39,954 | $25,000 | 1,025,350 | 16 |
| 43 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,674 | $23,000 | 3,976,322 | 32 |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $26,494 | $17,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 45 | New Orleans, LA | $24,676 | $16,000 | 391,495 | 11 |
| 46 | Toledo, OH | $30,207 | $18,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 47 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,130 | $27,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 48 | San Francisco, CA | $40,338 | $25,000 | 870,887 | 11 |
| 49 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,393 | $18,000 | 1,567,872 | 7 |
| 50 | Detroit, MI | $29,837 | $18,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for photographers
| Rank | City | Avg. Photographer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $57,095 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,120 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $40,255 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $39,883 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $37,127 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $36,900 |
| 7 | Springfield, VA | $35,747 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $35,717 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $34,461 |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $34,270 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $33,705 |
| 12 | Kansas City, KS | $31,643 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,393 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $31,388 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $30,157 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $29,837 |
| 17 | Birmingham, AL | $29,059 |
| 18 | Chattanooga, TN | $28,956 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $28,751 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,248 |
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Updated January 8, 2025