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.
Photographers
SOC: 27-4021 O*NET: 27-4021.00
Median Salary
$42,520
per year
Job Growth
➡️ 1.8%
Average (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
12.7
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Job Zone 3
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.
What does a Photographers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$29,610
10th percentile
Early Career
$34,790
25th percentile
Median
$42,520
50th percentile
Experienced
$62,370
75th percentile
Top Earners
$94,760
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$29,610
25th
$34,790
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$42,520
Mean: $55,650
75th
$62,370
90th
$94,760
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $65,150 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $34,790 and $62,370
- •Salary spread is 64.9% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 51,230 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:151,200
Top Industries
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services57.1%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services57.1%
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services52.8%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+1.8%
Annual Openings:12,700
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)151,200
Current
2034 (Projected)154,000
+1.8%
+2,800
Employment Change
+1.8%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Photographers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
7,300 jobs$50,6101.22x
Florida
4,450 jobs$38,2301.36x
Texas
3,780 jobs$36,7600.82x
New York
3,620 jobs$57,7001.14x
Illinois
2,530 jobs$34,6001.25x
Pennsylvania
2,000 jobs$39,6401.00x
Ohio
1,970 jobs$33,9901.07x
Georgia
1,950 jobs$40,0501.21x
North Carolina
1,620 jobs$38,4000.99x
Virginia
1,360 jobs$43,1801.01x
New Jersey
1,280 jobs$50,7600.91x
Washington
1,260 jobs$44,5801.07x
Massachusetts
1,170 jobs$60,6100.96x
Arizona
1,090 jobs$38,2101.02x
Tennessee
1,090 jobs$36,0001.00x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
Standard growth expectations for this occupation
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Speaking
94%
#3
Service Orientation
86%
#4
Social Perceptiveness
80%
#5
Critical Thinking
74%
#6
Complex Problem Solving
66%
#7
Judgment and Decision Making
60%
#8
Reading Comprehension
54%
#9
Active Learning
46%
#10
Monitoring
40%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Speaking
advanced4.7
94%
Service Orientation
intermediate4.3
86%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate4.0
80%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.7
74%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced3.3
66%
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediate3.0
60%
Reading Comprehension
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Active Listening
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Speaking
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Service Orientation
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediateImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Monitoring
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Acupuncturists100%
5 shared skills
Dentists, General100%
5 shared skills
Nurse Anesthetists100%
5 shared skills
Pharmacy Technicians100%
5 shared skills
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers82%
5 shared skills
Urologists82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
Learn on the Job:
- →Complex Problem Solving
- →Judgment and Decision Making
- →Reading Comprehension
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★Speaking
- ★Service Orientation
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Photographers
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Intuit QuickBooks
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Access
🔥 Hot TechAdobe InDesign
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Creative Cloud software
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Illustrator
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Photoshop
🔥 Hot TechApple macOS
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechAdobe After Effects
🔥 Hot TechWordPress
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Intuit QuickBooks
Microsoft Access
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Creative Cloud software
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Apple macOS
Microsoft Excel
Adobe After Effects
Facebook
WordPress
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🌤️
Location
MOSTLY OUTDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly outdoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (17)Operations & Execution (2)Management & Supervision (1)Planning & Development (1)
1
Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
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.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Review sets of photographs to select the best work.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Operations & Execution73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Photographers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Photographers professionals typically have a RAC Holland code and highly value independence
RRealistic
AArtistic
CConventional
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Photographers
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.82
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.76
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.64
Concern for Others
Very ImportantConcern for Others
Importance Level4.36
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.32
Adaptability/Flexibility
Very ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level4.23
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.8
Integrity
4.8
Attention to Detail
4.6
Concern for Others
4.4
Self-Control
4.3
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.2
Initiative
4.2
Cooperation
4.2
Stress Tolerance
4.0
Achievement/Effort
3.9
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Typical duration: Varies
Preparation Level
Job Zone 3
Medium Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training:
Training of more than one year
💼 Experience Requirement
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Associate degree programs
- • Apprenticeships (1-2 years)
- • Vocational training with related experience
3
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Associate degree programsApprenticeships (1-2 years)Vocational training with related experience
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