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Freelance photographer salary
Average freelance photographer salary
$42,949
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Let Zippi find your next freelance photographer job
Average freelance photographer salary by state
Highest paying states for freelance photographers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $69,231 | $33.28 |
| 2 | Utah | $48,681 | $23.40 |
| 3 | California | $53,300 | $25.63 |
| 4 | Alaska | $55,983 | $26.91 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $48,907 | $23.51 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $49,006 | $23.56 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $51,238 | $24.63 |
| 8 | Vermont | $46,877 | $22.54 |
| 9 | Illinois | $47,286 | $22.73 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| 11 | Virginia | $43,501 | $20.91 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $45,908 | $22.07 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $44,794 | $21.54 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| 15 | Colorado | $43,351 | $20.84 |
| 16 | Washington | $45,879 | $22.06 |
| 17 | Idaho | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| 18 | Oregon | $41,217 | $19.82 |
| 19 | Arkansas | $39,812 | $19.14 |
| 20 | Maryland | $43,168 | $20.75 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $43,506 | $20.92 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $44,775 | $21.53 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $38,213 | $18.37 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $39,796 | $19.13 |
| 25 | Alabama | $37,492 | $18.02 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $42,488 | $20.43 |
| 27 | Maine | $42,274 | $20.32 |
| 28 | Texas | $39,004 | $18.75 |
| 29 | Kansas | $40,421 | $19.43 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $38,564 | $18.54 |
| 31 | Ohio | $37,809 | $18.18 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $42,911 | $20.63 |
| 33 | Michigan | $37,212 | $17.89 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $39,786 | $19.13 |
| 35 | Montana | $39,867 | $19.17 |
| 36 | Georgia | $37,347 | $17.96 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $35,998 | $17.31 |
| 38 | Arizona | $36,309 | $17.46 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $30,901 | $14.86 |
| 40 | Indiana | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $34,458 | $16.57 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $31,597 | $15.19 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $31,934 | $15.35 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $34,969 | $16.81 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| 46 | Florida | $27,652 | $13.29 |
| 47 | Missouri | $28,969 | $13.93 |
| 48 | Iowa | $29,438 | $14.15 |
| 49 | Nevada | $29,262 | $14.07 |
| 50 | Delaware | $31,620 | $15.20 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $30,305 | $14.57 |
Freelance photographer salary details
A freelance photographer's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $61,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a freelance photographer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $42,949 | $3,579 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying freelance photographer jobs
The highest paying types of freelance photographers are executive producer, producer, and web producer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Visual Technician | $43,529 | $3,627 | $20.93 | 15,387 |
| Editor & Producer | $50,200 | $4,183 | $24.13 | 14,409 |
| Video Producer | $58,612 | $4,884 | $28.18 | 10,484 |
| News Producer | $54,608 | $4,551 | $26.25 | 11,336 |
| Web Producer | $68,376 | $5,698 | $32.87 | 17,519 |
| Producer | $72,202 | $6,017 | $34.71 | 10,610 |
Top companies hiring freelance photographers now:
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Freelance photographer salary trends
The average freelance photographer salary has risen by $12,922 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average freelance photographer earned $30,027 annually, but today, they earn $42,949 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for freelance photographers over the last decade.
Compare freelance photographer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average freelance photographer salary over time
Compare freelance photographer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Freelance photographer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,900 | $20.65 | +12.1% |
| 2024 | $37,700 | $18.15 | +6.3% |
| 2023 | $35,400 | $17.01 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | $33,800 | $16.25 | -4.9% |
| 2021 | $35,400 | $17.04 | +6.9% |
Recently added freelance photographer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Corporation | Freelance Field Photographer | Atlanta, GA | 03/18/2025 | $73,045 |
| Insight Editions | Freelance Photographer/Videographer | San Rafael, CA | 01/29/2025 | $73,045 |
| Paramount Global | Freelance Photographer | West Sacramento, CA | 01/11/2025 | $54,888 |
| UNM Group | Daily Lobo: Freelance Photographer | Albuquerque, NM | 10/22/2024 | $25,044 |
| 24 Seven Talent | Freelance Photographer, OCT 2 | Ione, CA | 09/30/2024 | $114,785 |
| UNM Group | Daily Lobo: Freelance Photographer | Albuquerque, NM | 09/28/2024 | $25,044 |
| Paramount | Freelance Photographer | West Sacramento, CA | 03/29/2024 | $54,888 |
| Iron Mountain | Freelance Photographer | Lanham, MD | 03/27/2024 | $48,200 |
| Iron Mountain | Freelance Art Collection Photographer | Lanham, MD | 12/01/2023 | $42,100 |
| 6Th Ave Storytelling | Freelance Photographer | Prosper, TX | 11/06/2023 | $52,175 |
Freelance photographer salary FAQs
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