Jobs Similar to Photographers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to photographers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers, Floral Designers and Craft Artists.
Photographers: $44,660 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Photographers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | 73% | $39,390−12% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Floral Designers | 73% | $37,360−16% | High school |
| 3 | Craft Artists | 70% | $46,080+3% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Film and Video EditorsSame group | 70% | $75,420+69% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 69% | $52,540+18% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 68% | $55,490+24% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | 68% | $35,790−20% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | 68% | $102,030+128% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Graphic Designers | 68% | $62,960+41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Interior Designers | 68% | $67,190+50% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Skincare Specialists | 67% | $45,330+2% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Fashion Designers | 66% | $80,960+81% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 66% | $41,640−7% | High school |
| 14 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 66% | $97,150+118% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | 64% | $48,690+9% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Sound Engineering TechniciansSame group | 64% | $73,130+64% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Desktop Publishers | 64% | $55,290+24% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Gem and Diamond Workers | 64% | $52,540Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 19 | Choreographers | 63% | $55,310+24% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Camera Operators, Television, Video, and FilmSame group | 63% | $74,990+68% | Training or associate |
- 1Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
73% similar · $39,390 (−12%) · Training or associate
- 2Floral Designers
73% similar · $37,360 (−16%) · High school
- 3Craft Artists
70% similar · $46,080 (+3%) · Training or associate
- 4Film and Video Editors
70% similar · $75,420 (+69%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
69% similar · $52,540 (+18%) · Training or associate
- 6Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
68% similar · $55,490 (+24%) · Training or associate
- 7Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
68% similar · $35,790 (−20%) · Training or associate
- 8Special Effects Artists and Animators
68% similar · $102,030 (+128%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Graphic Designers
68% similar · $62,960 (+41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Interior Designers
68% similar · $67,190 (+50%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Skincare Specialists
67% similar · $45,330 (+2%) · Training or associate
- 12Fashion Designers
66% similar · $80,960 (+81%) · Training or associate
- 13Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
66% similar · $41,640 (−7%) · High school
- 14Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
66% similar · $97,150 (+118%) · Training or associate
- 15Prepress Technicians and Workers
64% similar · $48,690 (+9%) · Training or associate
- 16Sound Engineering Technicians
64% similar · $73,130 (+64%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Desktop Publishers
64% similar · $55,290 (+24%) · Training or associate
- 18Gem and Diamond Workers
64% similar · $52,540 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 19Choreographers
63% similar · $55,310 (+24%) · Training or associate
- 20Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
63% similar · $74,990 (+68%) · Training or associate · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than photographers.
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance66% similar · $97,150 (+118%)
- Fashion Designers66% similar · $80,960 (+81%)
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film63% similar · $74,990 (+68%)
- Sound Engineering Technicians64% similar · $73,130 (+64%)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators68% similar · $55,490 (+24%)
- Desktop Publishers64% similar · $55,290 (+24%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for photographers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where photographers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (73)
- Floral Designers (72)
- Craft Artists (70)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (69)
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (68)
- Skincare Specialists (67)
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers (66)
- Models (66)
- Gem and Diamond Workers (64)
- Cooks, Private Household (61)
Questions about jobs like photographers
What jobs are most similar to photographers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (73% similar), Floral Designers (73% similar), Craft Artists (70% similar), Film and Video Editors (70% similar) and Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers (69% similar).
Which jobs like photographers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Special Effects Artists and Animators ($102,030, +128%; usually a bachelor's degree), Makeup Artists ($97,150, +118%; usually training or an associate degree) and Fashion Designers ($80,960, +81%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with photographers ($44,660). Without more preparation than photographers usually need: Makeup Artists, Fashion Designers and Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.