Best states for a photographer

Q: What is the best state for photographers?

The best state to be a photographer is New York based on photographer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for photographers?

The highest paying state for photographers is Nevada based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for photographers?

The worst state for photographers is Nevada, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Susan McSpadden

Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a photographer and really want to work at Lifetouch? Turns out, your chances to become a photographer are better in some states than others.Our research shows that New York is the best state in the country for photographers.

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for photographers.We found that the South is best for photographers, and the Northeast is the worst. New York, NY is the best city in the country for photographer jobs, where as New York is the best state in the country.

10 best states for photographers in 2025

1. New York
Total photographer jobs: 436
Average annual salary: $56,937
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
2.3
Photographer jobs in New York
2. Connecticut
Total photographer jobs: 56
Average annual salary: $40,485
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Photographer jobs in Connecticut
3. Utah
Total photographer jobs: 60
Average annual salary: $37,038
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Photographer jobs in Utah
4. West Virginia
Total photographer jobs: 20
Average annual salary: $37,194
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Photographer jobs in West Virginia
5. Alaska
Total photographer jobs: 12
Average annual salary: $38,626
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Photographer jobs in Alaska
6. California
Total photographer jobs: 596
Average annual salary: $37,556
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
1.38
Photographer jobs in California
7. Vermont
Total photographer jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $39,517
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
0.79
Photographer jobs in Vermont
8. Minnesota
Total photographer jobs: 61
Average annual salary: $41,165
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
0.62
Photographer jobs in Minnesota
9. Massachusetts
Total photographer jobs: 101
Average annual salary: $40,028
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
0.74
Photographer jobs in Massachusetts
10. North Dakota
Total photographer jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $36,732
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
0.66
Photographer jobs in North Dakota

Photographer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a photographer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a photographer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New York	$56,937	$33,000	19,849,399	436
2	Connecticut	$40,485	$24,000	3,588,184	56
3	Utah	$37,038	$25,000	3,101,833	60
4	West Virginia	$37,194	$23,000	1,815,857	20
5	Alaska	$38,626	$29,000	739,795	12
6	California	$37,556	$24,000	39,536,653	596
7	Vermont	$39,517	$25,000	623,657	9
8	Minnesota	$41,165	$27,000	5,576,606	61
9	Massachusetts	$40,028	$24,000	6,859,819	101
10	North Dakota	$36,732	$26,000	755,393	9
11	Illinois	$36,527	$23,000	12,802,023	147
12	Wisconsin	$34,197	$22,000	5,795,483	74
13	Wyoming	$36,454	$25,000	579,315	5
14	New Hampshire	$37,373	$23,000	1,342,795	13
15	Washington	$35,531	$24,000	7,405,743	87
16	Arkansas	$30,689	$21,000	3,004,279	39
17	Colorado	$33,620	$23,000	5,607,154	86
18	Maine	$35,707	$23,000	1,335,907	11
19	Virginia	$32,992	$20,000	8,470,020	137
20	Idaho	$33,964	$23,000	1,716,943	19
21	Nebraska	$31,347	$21,000	1,920,076	31
22	Pennsylvania	$31,215	$18,000	12,805,537	155
23	Maryland	$34,183	$20,000	6,052,177	86
24	Michigan	$29,665	$18,000	9,962,311	125
25	Oregon	$31,503	$21,000	4,142,776	60
26	Tennessee	$29,272	$19,000	6,715,984	90
27	New Jersey	$35,083	$20,000	9,005,644	81
28	Kentucky	$33,152	$21,000	4,454,189	31
29	South Dakota	$32,091	$22,000	869,666	10
30	Montana	$32,409	$23,000	1,050,493	10
31	Texas	$29,945	$20,000	28,304,596	293
32	Alabama	$28,890	$19,000	4,874,747	64
33	Ohio	$29,277	$18,000	11,658,609	133
34	Kansas	$31,320	$21,000	2,913,123	26
35	New Mexico	$31,570	$21,000	2,088,070	15
36	Mississippi	$27,759	$19,000	2,984,100	28
37	Georgia	$28,568	$19,000	10,429,379	132
38	District of Columbia	$24,311	$14,000	693,972	87
39	Oklahoma	$24,410	$16,000	3,930,864	45
40	South Carolina	$26,034	$17,000	5,024,369	60
41	Louisiana	$24,762	$16,000	4,684,333	44
42	Florida	$22,984	$15,000	20,984,400	239
43	Indiana	$28,666	$18,000	6,666,818	41
44	Arizona	$26,348	$17,000	7,016,270	70
45	Hawaii	$26,692	$19,000	1,427,538	10
46	North Carolina	$25,710	$16,000	10,273,419	113
47	Missouri	$22,485	$15,000	6,113,532	75
48	Iowa	$23,207	$15,000	3,145,711	43
49	Rhode Island	$24,964	$15,000	1,059,639	10
50	Delaware	$25,359	$15,000	961,939	8
51	Nevada	$20,532	$13,000	2,998,039	25

Highest paying states for photographers

Rank	State	Avg. Photographer Salary
1	New York	$56,937
2	Connecticut	$40,485
3	Utah	$37,038
4	West Virginia	$37,194
5	Alaska	$38,626
6	California	$37,556
7	Vermont	$39,517
8	Minnesota	$41,165
9	Massachusetts	$40,028
10	North Dakota	$36,732
11	Illinois	$36,527
12	Wisconsin	$34,197
13	Wyoming	$36,454
14	New Hampshire	$37,373
15	Washington	$35,531
16	Arkansas	$30,689
17	Colorado	$33,620
18	Maine	$35,707
19	Virginia	$32,992
20	Idaho	$33,964
21	Nebraska	$31,347
22	Pennsylvania	$31,215
23	Maryland	$34,183
24	Michigan	$29,665
25	Oregon	$31,503
26	Tennessee	$29,272
27	New Jersey	$35,083
28	Kentucky	$33,152
29	South Dakota	$32,091
30	Montana	$32,409
31	Texas	$29,945
32	Alabama	$28,890
33	Ohio	$29,277
34	Kansas	$31,320
35	New Mexico	$31,570
36	Mississippi	$27,759
37	Georgia	$28,568
38	District of Columbia	$24,311
39	Oklahoma	$24,410
40	South Carolina	$26,034
41	Louisiana	$24,762
42	Florida	$22,984
43	Indiana	$28,666
44	Arizona	$26,348
45	Hawaii	$26,692
46	North Carolina	$25,710
47	Missouri	$22,485
48	Iowa	$23,207
49	Rhode Island	$24,964
50	Delaware	$25,359
51	Nevada	$20,532

Expert opinions on the best states for photographers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for photographers to find work opportunities?
Susan McSpadden
Marketing Photographer, Johnson County Community College
I don't think there are specific places in the U.S. that are better for photography professions. Photography is needed everywhere, so I think just finding places that aren't already saturated with photographers is the key.

Photographer best states FAQs

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What is the worst state for photographers?

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Best states for Photographers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total photographer jobs:	436
Average annual salary:	$56,937
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$33,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$95,000
Location Quotient:	2.3

Best states for a photographer

10 best states for photographers in 2025

1. New York

2. Connecticut

3. Utah

4. West Virginia

5. Alaska

6. California

7. Vermont

8. Minnesota

9. Massachusetts

10. North Dakota