Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Massachusetts
$74,000 / year
≈ $6,150 per month · $35.58 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Massachusetts · median $60,000
25th percentile
$45,000Average
$74,00075th percentile
$102,000
$45,000Average
$74,00075th percentile
$102,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Photographer salary by state
Alabama$45,000
Alaska$52,000
Arizona$49,000
Arkansas$36,000
California$72,500
Colorado$60,000
Connecticut$59,500
Delaware$53,000
District of Columbia$108,500
Florida$54,000
Georgia$59,500
Hawaii$59,000
Idaho$39,500
Illinois$52,500
Indiana$42,000
Iowa$44,500
Kansas$45,500
Kentucky$51,500
Louisiana$45,000
Maine$54,000
Maryland$59,500
Massachusetts$74,000
Minnesota$58,000
Mississippi$47,500
Missouri$49,000
Montana$51,000
Nebraska$48,500
Nevada$43,000
New Hampshire$51,500
New Jersey$55,500
New Mexico$60,500
New York$74,000
North Carolina$49,000
North Dakota$47,500
Ohio$48,500
Oklahoma$41,500
Oregon$71,500
Pennsylvania$51,000
Rhode Island$51,000
South Carolina$46,000
South Dakota$45,500
Tennessee$45,500
Texas$45,500
Utah$53,000
Virginia$54,500
Washington$58,000
West Virginia$42,500
Wisconsin$51,500
Wyoming$46,500
About this role
Photographer is a professional role within the function in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Photographers do
Typical education: Some College Courses
- Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
- Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
- Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
- Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
- Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
Top skills: Speaking Active Listening Service Orientation Social Perceptiveness Reading Comprehension Monitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Photographer pay by experience level
Entry level$32,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$37,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$46,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$65,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$95,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
12,700
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Photographer salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
30,850 workers
$53,500Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
28,850 workers
$52,000Broadcasting and Content Providers
2,930 workers
$80,000Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
2,010 workers
$39,500Publishing Industries
1,710 workers
$61,000Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
1,670 workers
$60,500Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, & Other Media Networks & Content Providers
1,620 workers
$85,500Amusement Parks and Arcades
1,430 workers
$38,500Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations
1,310 workers
$73,000Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
1,300 workers
$116,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Photographer pays 35% below the average across 45 roles in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family (family average $88,500).
Similar-paying roles in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Coaches and Scouts$62,500
Craft Artist$51,500
Dancer$66,500
Audio and Video Technicians$67,000
Interpreters and Translators$68,500
Disc Jockeys, Except Radio$70,000
Broadcast Technician$70,500
Careers related to Photographer
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Photographer make?
The average base salary for a Photographer in the United States is $57,500 per year, or about $27.64 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $37,500 and $65,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media roles?
The Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family averages $88,500 across 45 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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