Photographers
Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.
Also called: Advertising Photographer, Aerial Photographer, Automotive Photographer, Biological Photographer, Biomedical Photographer, Commercial Photographer
Median pay
$44,660
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$30,820 – $91,810
People employed
51,760
Holland code
RAC
Realistic · Artistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Photographers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What photographers do
- 01Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
- 02Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
- 03Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
- 04Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
- 05Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
- 06Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Communications and Media
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from photographers
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators78% · +24%
- Craft Artists77% · +3%
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers76% · −12%
- Special Effects Artists and Animators73% · +128%
- Graphic Designers73% · +41%
Change into photographers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers73% · $39,390
- Floral Designers72% · $37,360
- Craft Artists70% · $46,080
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators69% · $55,490
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists68% · $35,790
Majors that lead here
- Photojournalism
- Visual and Performing Arts, General
- Digital Arts
- Commercial Photography
- Photography
- Art/Art Studies, General
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.