Sports Photographers

The earning potential for any photographer varies depending on the sports event and the publishing or media company. Typically, the more important the sporting event is, the higher the pay for sports photographers. Photographers shooting a college football game will earn less than those hired to shoot the Super Bowl.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that photographers in general earned a median salary of $36,280 in May 2019. The lowest paid 10 percent earned $20,630 or less, while the highest paid 10 percent earned $79,440 or more. During the same year, photographers working for newspapers, books, and other publishers earned an average of $52,820 annually.

Salaried sports photographers usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Self-employed photographers must provide their own benefits.