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Best states for a Photographer
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Susan McSpadden
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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: 2.32. Connecticut
Total Photographer Jobs: 56 Average Annual Salary: $40,485 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $24,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.143. Utah
Total Photographer Jobs: 60 Average Annual Salary: $37,038 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $25,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.274. 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: 0.895. Alaska
Total Photographer Jobs: 12 Average Annual Salary: $38,626 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $29,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.976. California
Total Photographer Jobs: 596 Average Annual Salary: $37,556 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $24,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.387. Vermont
Total Photographer Jobs: 9 Average Annual Salary: $39,517 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $25,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.798. Minnesota
Total Photographer Jobs: 61 Average Annual Salary: $41,165 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $27,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.629. Massachusetts
Total Photographer Jobs: 101 Average Annual Salary: $40,028 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $24,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.7410. 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 JobsNear Ashburn, VA
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.
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Updated January 8, 2025