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What is a scientific photographer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a scientific photographer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $41.1 an hour? That's $85,490 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 9% and produce 11,200 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreScientific PhotographerUS Average
Salary
-

Avg. Salary $85,490

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
-

Growth Rate 9%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
-
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.20%

Asian 6.02%

Black or African American 5.16%

Hispanic or Latino 10.89%

Unknown 5.36%

White 72.36%

Gender

female 20.00%

male 80.00%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Key steps to become a scientific photographer

  1. Explore scientific photographer education requirements

    Most common scientific photographer degrees

    Bachelor's

    56.3 %

    Master's

    31.3 %

    Doctorate

    6.3 %
  2. Complete relevant scientific photographer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New scientific photographers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a scientific photographer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real scientific photographer resumes.
  3. Research scientific photographer duties and responsibilities

    • Coordinate and manage providing and dressing the customers with old western costumes in preparation of taking their photos.
    • Used FileMaker database program for job order processing.
    • Conduct exterior video surveys of complete flight elements for Boeing and NASA.
    • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.
  4. Apply for scientific photographer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a scientific photographer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Scientific Photographer Job

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Average scientific photographer salary

The average Scientific Photographer salary in the United States is $85,490 per year or $41 per hour. Scientific photographer salaries range between $22,000 and $324,000 per year.

Average Scientific Photographer Salary
$85,490 Yearly
$41.10 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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