Professional Photographer Training and Jobs
Training and Education
You'll generally want long-term on-the-job training for this career path. Of current professional photographers, 46% graduated from college with degrees. Some 36% of workers attened college but did not go on to get a bachelor's degree. A high school education was sufficient for 19% of employees.
Area Job Conditions
Finding professional photographers is easiest in Cleveland (Tennessee), Anniston (Alabama), and Altoona (Pennsylvania), and by comparison more challenging in Oakland (California), Tacoma (Washington), and Lafayette (Louisiana).
The pay is best in San Francisco (California), Ann Arbor (Michigan), and Springfield (Illinois) and worst in San Antonio (Texas), Prescott (Arizona), and Anniston (Alabama).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Professional photographers working part-time accounted for 22% of those employed in 2008. Self-employed workers represent an estimated 54% of the total.
Career Videos
Professional Photographers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $27,000 | 210 | +6% |
| Florence | $25,000 | 30 | +62% |
| Gadsden | $26,000 | 30 | +153% |
| Huntsville | $27,000 | 100 | +23% |
| Mobile | $25,000 | 80 | +17% |
| Montgomery | $35,000 | 70 | +11% |
| Tuscaloosa | $24,000 | 50 | +49% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $41,000 | 60 | -8% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $45,000 | 630 | -12% |
| Tucson | $33,000 | 110 | -19% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $27,000 | 100 | +25% |
| Little Rock | $29,000 | 120 | -13% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $29,000 | 110 | +7% |
| Chico | $22,000 | 40 | +57% |
| Fresno | $32,000 | 90 | -29% |
| Los Angeles | $55,000 | 1,310 | -21% |
| Modesto | $35,000 | 110 | +83% |
| Oakland | $36,000 | 210 | -48% |
| Oxnard | $30,000 | 80 | -32% |
| Riverside | $32,000 | 430 | -12% |
| Sacramento | $34,000 | 320 | -9% |
| Salinas | $48,000 | 40 | -35% |
| San Diego | $37,000 | 500 | -6% |
| San Francisco | $53,000 | 390 | -3% |
| Santa Ana | $37,000 | 540 | -9% |
| Santa Barbara | $31,000 | 60 | -8% |
| Santa Cruz | $43,000 | 30 | -7% |
| Santa Rosa | $34,000 | 60 | -11% |
| Vallejo | $36,000 | 50 | +10% |
| Visalia | $28,000 | 40 | -23% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $34,000 | 90 | +52% |
| Colorado Springs | $33,000 | 140 | +40% |
| Denver | $50,000 | 590 | +16% |
| Fort Collins | $41,000 | 50 | +4% |
| Grand Junction | $37,000 | 60 | +194% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $69,000 | 180 | +5% |
| Danbury | $36,000 | 50 | +101% |
| Hartford | $51,000 | 150 | -35% |
| New Haven | $48,000 | 80 | -26% |
| Norwich | $41,000 | 40 | -14% |
| Waterbury | $37,000 | 30 | +21% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $25,000 | 40 | +119% |
| Wilmington | $38,000 | 80 | -38% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $55,000 | 760 | -23% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $33,000 | 150 | +98% |
| Deltona | $32,000 | 70 | +18% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $38,000 | 200 | -29% |
| Gainesville | $22,000 | 80 | +73% |
| Jacksonville | $32,000 | 190 | -22% |
| Lakeland | $36,000 | 30 | -59% |
| Miami | $35,000 | 460 | +16% |
| Naples | $38,000 | 30 | -29% |
| Orlando | $29,000 | 640 | +55% |
| Palm Bay | $43,000 | 50 | -35% |
| Pensacola | $31,000 | 60 | +4% |
| Sarasota | $26,000 | 80 | -18% |
| Tampa | $29,000 | 410 | -12% |
| West Palm Beach | $39,000 | 270 | +29% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $28,000 | 1,250 | +33% |
| Augusta | $30,000 | 80 | -1% |
| Columbus | $31,000 | 60 | +43% |
| Savannah | $35,000 | 40 | -31% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $32,000 | 400 | +126% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $26,000 | 130 | +26% |
| Coeur Dalene | $39,000 | 30 | +67% |
| Idaho Falls | $19,000 | 50 | +204% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $49,000 | 1,990 | +30% |
| Peoria | $37,000 | 70 | +5% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $25,000 | 30 | +18% |
| Elkhart | $32,000 | 30 | -27% |
| Evansville | $25,000 | 100 | +50% |
| Fort Wayne | $26,000 | 130 | +62% |
| Indianapolis | $32,000 | 720 | +98% |
| South Bend | $24,000 | 100 | +102% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $30,000 | 50 | -7% |
| Iowa City | $30,000 | 50 | +93% |
| Waterloo | $26,000 | 40 | +25% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $31,000 | 30 | -28% |
| Wichita | $36,000 | 170 | +48% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $29,000 | 60 | +201% |
| Lexington | $33,000 | 170 | +79% |
| Louisville | $33,000 | 270 | +10% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $28,000 | 50 | +115% |
| Baton Rouge | $30,000 | 140 | -6% |
| Lafayette | $32,000 | 40 | -27% |
| New Orleans | $26,000 | 260 | +22% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $31,000 | 90 | +14% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $41,000 | 550 | +3% |
| Bethesda | $31,000 | 300 | +29% |
| Hagerstown | $20,000 | 60 | +65% |
| Salisbury | $22,000 | 60 | +214% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $47,000 | 750 | +6% |
| Framingham | $32,000 | 180 | +184% |
| Haverhill | $26,000 | 30 | -2% |
| Lowell | $34,000 | 60 | +31% |
| Springfield | $29,000 | 110 | -7% |
| Worcester | 70 | -30% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $57,000 | 60 | -8% |
| Detroit | $30,000 | 220 | -19% |
| Grand Rapids | $38,000 | 150 | -1% |
| Kalamazoo | $36,000 | 30 | -43% |
| Lansing | $36,000 | 80 | +3% |
| Warren | $44,000 | 650 | +48% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $46,000 | 50 | +0% |
| Minneapolis | $46,000 | 1,010 | +39% |
| Rochester | $43,000 | 40 | +3% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $32,000 | 40 | -2% |
| Jackson | $37,000 | 90 | -10% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 60 | +102% | |
| Jefferson City | $24,000 | 40 | +47% |
| Kansas City | $26,000 | 730 | +77% |
| Springfield | $25,000 | 130 | +74% |
| St Louis | $26,000 | 710 | +31% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $24,000 | 80 | +29% |
| Omaha | $31,000 | 220 | +16% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $41,000 | 610 | +77% |
| Reno | $35,000 | 70 | -6% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $35,000 | 50 | +28% |
| Portsmouth | $32,000 | 30 | +45% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $40,000 | 40 | -29% |
| Camden | $38,000 | 130 | -39% |
| Edison | $42,000 | 170 | -59% |
| Newark | $42,000 | 280 | -31% |
| Trenton | $38,000 | 40 | -55% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $34,000 | 230 | +49% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $34,000 | 210 | +16% |
| Buffalo | $38,000 | 170 | -24% |
| Glens Falls | $50,000 | 40 | +115% |
| Nassau | $32,000 | 560 | +9% |
| New York | $55,000 | 2,520 | +19% |
| Poughkeepsie | $40,000 | 50 | -49% |
| Rochester | $36,000 | 150 | -26% |
| Syracuse | $37,000 | 130 | +4% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $38,000 | 90 | +30% |
| Burlington | $25,000 | 120 | +489% |
| Charlotte | $33,000 | 410 | +18% |
| Durham | $33,000 | 170 | +55% |
| Fayetteville | $26,000 | 60 | +24% |
| Goldsboro | $23,000 | 40 | +185% |
| Greensboro | $35,000 | 180 | +26% |
| Greenville | $25,000 | 40 | +62% |
| Hickory | $25,000 | 60 | +6% |
| Raleigh | $28,000 | 250 | +20% |
| Wilmington | $26,000 | 100 | +90% |
| Winston Salem | $33,000 | 100 | +21% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $33,000 | 70 | +50% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $29,000 | 120 | -7% |
| Canton | $25,000 | 140 | +116% |
| Cincinnati | $28,000 | 560 | +36% |
| Cleveland | $38,000 | 330 | -21% |
| Columbus | $37,000 | 310 | -17% |
| Dayton | $28,000 | 170 | +11% |
| Steubenville | $22,000 | 30 | +108% |
| Toledo | $26,000 | 90 | -23% |
| Youngstown | $23,000 | 120 | +34% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $30,000 | 250 | +7% |
| Tulsa | $29,000 | 170 | -2% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $37,000 | 30 | -45% |
| Portland | $42,000 | 380 | -8% |
| Salem | $32,000 | 70 | +21% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $31,000 | 120 | -13% |
| Altoona | $33,000 | 60 | +173% |
| Erie | $27,000 | 70 | +42% |
| Harrisburg | $33,000 | 140 | +9% |
| Lancaster | $39,000 | 160 | +72% |
| Philadelphia | $35,000 | 780 | +0% |
| Pittsburgh | $35,000 | 470 | +1% |
| Reading | $35,000 | 60 | -8% |
| Scranton | $38,000 | 110 | +6% |
| State College | $36,000 | 30 | +32% |
| York | $26,000 | 90 | +31% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $39,000 | 250 | +11% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $31,000 | 60 | -48% |
| Columbia | $28,000 | 110 | -22% |
| Greenville | $28,000 | 120 | +0% |
| Myrtle Beach | $22,000 | 70 | +69% |
| Spartanburg | $32,000 | 40 | -9% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $27,000 | 60 | +159% |
| Sioux Falls | $29,000 | 50 | -7% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $26,000 | 100 | +11% |
| Clarksville | $28,000 | 40 | +38% |
| Johnson City | $28,000 | 40 | +51% |
| Kingsport | $28,000 | 40 | -14% |
| Knoxville | $32,000 | 110 | -17% |
| Memphis | $24,000 | 140 | -44% |
| Nashville | $29,000 | 220 | -27% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $34,000 | 70 | +73% |
| Austin | $35,000 | 460 | +44% |
| Beaumont | 60 | -4% | |
| Brownsville | $31,000 | 30 | -40% |
| Corpus Christi | $35,000 | 40 | -43% |
| Dallas | $31,000 | 860 | +1% |
| El Paso | $35,000 | 80 | -26% |
| Fort Worth | $37,000 | 430 | +23% |
| Houston | $33,000 | 1,470 | +37% |
| Killeen | $24,000 | 50 | +1% |
| Longview | 40 | +11% | |
| Lubbock | $36,000 | 90 | +86% |
| Mcallen | $25,000 | 80 | -12% |
| San Antonio | $30,000 | 300 | -15% |
| Tyler | $25,000 | 50 | +48% |
| Waco | $31,000 | 30 | -20% |
| Wichita Falls | $21,000 | 40 | +101% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $27,000 | 60 | -23% |
| Provo | $29,000 | 60 | -10% |
| Salt Lake City | $30,000 | 480 | +95% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $38,000 | 60 | +41% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $38,000 | 180 | -28% |
| Roanoke | $42,000 | 60 | -1% |
| Virginia Beach | $31,000 | 500 | +63% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | $29,000 | 40 | +30% |
| Olympia | 30 | -19% | |
| Seattle | $47,000 | 700 | +23% |
| Spokane | $33,000 | 90 | +12% |
| Tacoma | $46,000 | 60 | -43% |
| Yakima | $24,000 | 40 | +29% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $26,000 | 80 | +42% |
| Huntington | $25,000 | 60 | +39% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | $23,000 | 40 | +47% |
| Green Bay | $38,000 | 110 | +68% |
| La Crosse | $33,000 | 40 | +52% |
| Madison | $38,000 | 200 | +48% |
| Milwaukee | $31,000 | 320 | -5% |
| Oshkosh | $47,000 | 30 | -8% |
| Racine | $28,000 | 50 | +82% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $27,000 | 40 | +221% |
*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Photographers schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.