The U.S. Department of Labor reports that salaried photographers had median annual earnings of $36,280 in May 2019. Salaries ranged from less than $20,630 to more than $79,440. Photographers earned the following mean annual salaries by employer: motion picture and video firms, $71,670; radio and television broadcasting companies, $52,020; newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers, $52,820; and other professional, scientific, and technical services firms, $41,040.
Self-employed photographers often earn more than salaried photographers, but their earnings depend on general business conditions. In addition, self-employed photographers do not receive the benefits that a company provides its employees.
Photographers in salaried jobs usually receive benefits such as paid holidays, vacations, and sick leave and medical insurance.
- Art Directors
- Art Teachers
- Artists
- Camera Operators
- Cartoonists
- Cinematographers and Directors of Photography
- Comic Book Artists
- Copywriters
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Demographers
- Digital Designers
- Exhibit Designers
- Fashion Designers
- Fashion Illustrators
- Fashion Photographers
- Fashion Stylists
- Film and Television Directors
- Food Photographers
- Fund-Raisers
- Furniture Designers
- Gallery Owners and Directors
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Graphic Designers
- Greeting Card Designers and Writers
- Hedge Fund Investor Relations Specialists
- Illustrators
- Interior Designers and Decorators
- Jewelers and Jewelry Repairers
- Makeup Artists
- Market Research Analysts
- Marketing Consultants
- Media Planners and Buyers
- Media Relations Specialists
- Medical Illustrators and Photographers
- Motion Graphics Artists
- Multimedia Artists and Animators
- Non-Fungible Token Artists
- Online Reputation Managers
- Photo Editors
- Photographers
- Photographic Equipment Technicians
- Photographic Laboratory Workers
- Photography Instructors
- Photojournalists
- Political Consultants
- Press Secretaries
- Production Designers and Art Directors
- Public Opinion Researchers
- Public Relations Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Publicists
- Social Media Influencers
- Social Media Workers
- Sports Photographers
- Sports Publicists
- Tattoo Artists
- Video Game Art Directors
- Visual Interaction Designers
- Webmasters