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Certified photo specialist salary
Average certified photo specialist salary
$51,515
Average Certified Photo Specialist Salary
The average Certified Photo Specialist earns approximately $51,515 per year, translating to about $25 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience level, location, and the specific employer. For instance, entry-level positions may start lower, while seasoned professionals command higher pay due to their expertise.
Where Can a Certified Photo Specialist Earn More?
Geographic location plays a crucial role in determining salary potential. States such as California and New York typically offer higher compensation due to the demand for photography services and a larger client base. Major cities like Los Angeles and New York City are known for their vibrant photography markets, which can lead to lucrative job opportunities.
Career Opportunities
In addition to retail positions, Certified Photo Specialists can explore freelance work, which allows for flexible hours and varied income potential. Those looking to advance their careers may also consider specialized roles that require advanced skills in photography, editing, and customer service.
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Where can a Certified Photo Specialist earn more?
Average certified photo specialist salary by state
The average certified photo specialist salary in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average certified photo specialist salary states are Colorado, Idaho, and Minnesota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for certified photo specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $81,883 | $39.37 |
| 2 | Delaware | $85,534 | $41.12 |
| 3 | Maryland | $83,258 | $40.03 |
| 4 | Vermont | $77,485 | $37.25 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $86,083 | $41.39 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $64,288 | $30.91 |
| 7 | Alaska | $78,193 | $37.59 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $65,280 | $31.38 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $82,359 | $39.60 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $86,992 | $41.82 |
| 11 | Nevada | $73,562 | $35.37 |
| 12 | New York | $67,183 | $32.30 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $67,241 | $32.33 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $84,299 | $40.53 |
| 15 | Ohio | $74,342 | $35.74 |
| 16 | Virginia | $60,453 | $29.06 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $73,991 | $35.57 |
| 18 | Indiana | $52,986 | $25.47 |
| 19 | California | $62,672 | $30.13 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $64,907 | $31.21 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $57,895 | $27.83 |
| 22 | Texas | $52,608 | $25.29 |
| 23 | Maine | $59,334 | $28.53 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $62,125 | $29.87 |
| 25 | Michigan | $59,887 | $28.79 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $47,321 | $22.75 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $54,845 | $26.37 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $52,982 | $25.47 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $45,398 | $21.83 |
| 30 | Montana | $54,399 | $26.15 |
| 31 | Arizona | $47,567 | $22.87 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $51,994 | $25.00 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $49,352 | $23.73 |
| 34 | Missouri | $45,942 | $22.09 |
| 35 | Oregon | $45,349 | $21.80 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $45,372 | $21.81 |
| 37 | Iowa | $46,603 | $22.41 |
| 38 | Florida | $48,037 | $23.09 |
| 39 | Utah | $43,930 | $21.12 |
| 40 | Georgia | $46,552 | $22.38 |
| 41 | Illinois | $43,691 | $21.01 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $46,636 | $22.42 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $48,279 | $23.21 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $40,858 | $19.64 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $41,292 | $19.85 |
| 47 | Alabama | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| 48 | Kansas | $43,619 | $20.97 |
| 49 | Idaho | $42,672 | $20.52 |
| 50 | Washington | $36,303 | $17.45 |
| 51 | Colorado | $43,108 | $20.73 |
Highest paying cities for certified photo specialists
The highest-paying cities for certified photo specialists are Brockton, MA, New York, NY, and Milwaukee, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brockton, MA | $86,014 | $41.35 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $67,309 | $32.36 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $55,125 | $26.50 |
| 4 | Saint George, UT | $53,996 | $25.96 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $53,682 | $25.81 |
| 6 | Bozeman, MT | $52,965 | $25.46 |
| 7 | Bethlehem, PA | $49,886 | $23.98 |
| 8 | Santa Fe, NM | $49,678 | $23.88 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $46,989 | $22.59 |
| 10 | Alpharetta, GA | $46,468 | $22.34 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,268 | $19.84 |
| 12 | Puyallup, WA | $36,080 | $17.35 |
Certified photo specialist salary details
A certified photo specialist's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $107,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a certified photo specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $51,515 | $4,293 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying certified photo specialist jobs
The highest paying types of certified photo specialists are developing machine operator, process line operator, and photographic process worker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Retoucher | $51,547 | $4,296 | $24.78 | 16,110 |
| Retoucher | $51,538 | $4,295 | $24.78 | 135 |
| Photo Retoucher | $51,529 | $4,294 | $24.77 | 281 |
Top companies hiring certified photo specialists now:
Which companies pay certified photo specialists the most?
Certified photo specialist salaries at GradyHealth and Doylestown Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average certified photo specialist salary at companies like Bozeman Health and Emory Healthcare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GradyHealth | $139,080 | $66.87 |
| 2 | Doylestown Health | $124,308 | $59.76 |
| 3 | Bozeman Health | $123,808 | $59.52 |
| 4 | Emory Healthcare | $86,660 | $41.66 |
| 5 | Peoples Health | $82,467 | $39.65 |
| 6 | Canvas Health | $71,423 | $34.34 |
| 7 | St. Luke's Health System | $57,530 | $27.66 |
| 8 | Multicare Companies Inc. | $53,658 | $25.80 |
| 9 | Intermountain Healthcare | $52,688 | $25.33 |
| 10 | NYU Lutheran Medical Center | $52,065 | $25.03 |
| 11 | Beyond Finance | $51,771 | $24.89 |
| 12 | Nascentia Health | $49,378 | $23.74 |
| 13 | Chime | $47,452 | $22.81 |
| 14 | Wisconsin Community Services | $46,663 | $22.43 |
| 15 | WellSpan Health | $44,947 | $21.61 |
| 16 | comhar | $44,408 | $21.35 |
| 17 | Res-Care Premier | $43,745 | $21.03 |
| 18 | RiversEdge USA | $41,136 | $19.78 |
| 19 | Rockingham County | $39,854 | $19.16 |
| 20 | Eagleville Hospital | $37,763 | $18.16 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Certified photo specialist salary trends
The average certified photo specialist salary has risen by $17,598 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average certified photo specialist earned $33,918 annually, but today, they earn $51,515 a year. That works out to a 31% change in pay for certified photo specialists over the last decade.
Compare certified photo specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average certified photo specialist salary over time
Compare certified photo specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Certified photo specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,500 | $24.77 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | $47,900 | $23.03 | +9.6% |
| 2023 | $43,300 | $20.82 | +5.8% |
| 2022 | $40,800 | $19.60 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $39,300 | $18.88 | -0.5% |
Recently added certified photo specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Recovery Systems | Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) | Vancouver, WA | 06/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| Access: Supports for Living | Ccbhc Certified Peer Specialist | Newburgh, NY | 06/11/2025 | $52,175 |
| Skyland Trail | Certified Peer Specialist-Parent | Atlanta, GA | 06/11/2025 | $52,175 |
| Benchmark Human Services-Ga | Paraprofessional/Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) | Dalton, GA | 06/10/2025 | $39,653 |
| Gateway Foundation | Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) | Kansas City, KS | 06/10/2025 | $40,697 |
| Marigold Health | Certified Peer Specialist | Washington, DC | 05/28/2025 | $45,000 |
| Paragoncommunity | Certified Peer Specialist | Atlanta, GA | 05/27/2025 | $45,624 |
| Carebridge | Certified Peer Specialist | Grand Prairie, TX | 05/16/2025 | $45,624 |
| Carebridge | Certified Peer Specialist | Atlanta, GA | 05/16/2025 | $45,624 |
| Northstar Behavioral Health Network | Certified Peer Specialist-Irts | Fergus Falls, MN | 05/10/2025 | $39,653 |
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