Photographer Salary — U.S. Market Overview
20 metropolitan markets · May 2026 · BLS OES
National Median
$45,000
Highest Market
San Francisco
$65,000
National Median
$45,000
20-market average
Lowest Market
Detroit
$40,000
| Market | 25th Pct. | Median | 75th Pct. | 90th Pct. | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $45,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 | $125,000 | +0.9% |
| New York, NY | $45,000 | $60,000 | $85,000 | $115,000 | +0.9% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $40,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $110,000 | +0.9% |
| Seattle, WA | $40,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 | $105,000 | +0.9% |
| Boston, MA | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 | +0.9% |
| San Diego, CA | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 | +0.9% |
| Washington DC, DC | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | $105,000 | +0.9% |
| Sacramento, CA | $35,000 | $50,000 | $70,000 | $100,000 | +0.9% |
| Chicago, IL | $35,000 | $50,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 | +0.9% |
| Portland, OR | $35,000 | $50,000 | $70,000 | $95,000 | +0.9% |
| Baltimore, MD | $35,000 | $45,000 | $65,000 | $85,000 | +0.9% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | $45,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 | +0.9% |
| Austin, TX | $35,000 | $45,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 | +0.9% |
| Dallas, TX | $30,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | $85,000 | +0.9% |
| Houston, TX | $30,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | $85,000 | +0.9% |
| Denver, CO | $35,000 | $45,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 | +0.9% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $30,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | +0.9% |
| Atlanta, GA | $30,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | +0.9% |
| Miami, FL | $35,000 | $45,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 | +0.9% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $30,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | $85,000 | +0.9% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $30,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | +0.9% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,000 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | +0.9% |
| Tampa, FL | $30,000 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 | +0.9% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $30,000 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 | +0.9% |
| Nashville, TN | $30,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | +0.9% |
| Charlotte, NC | $30,000 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | +0.9% |
| Raleigh, NC | $30,000 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | +0.9% |
| Kansas City, MO | $30,000 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | +0.9% |
| Columbus, OH | $30,000 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | +0.9% |
| Detroit, MI | $30,000 | $40,000 | $55,000 | $75,000 | +0.9% |