Employment Outlook

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a favorable outlook for photographers due to the population increase. The demand for digital photographs will increase as print magazines transition to the internet. Digital cameras and lower prices restrict job opportunities. Individuals often create and edit their own photographs due to user-friendly camera options. Increased availability of equipment creates more opportunities for freelance photographers.
  
  

Annual Mean and Median Salaries

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an annual mean wage of $35,980 for photographers in 2010. Photographers earned an annual median wage of $29,130. The lower 10 percentile earned $17,350 and the lower 25 percentile earned $20,710. Photographers in the upper 75th percentile earned $43,700. Photographers in the upper 90th percentile earned nearly $20,000 more, grossing $63,400 per year, per the BLS salary report.
  
  

Pay by Industry

• According to the BLS, motion picture and video industries, aerospace product and parts manufacturing, and cable and other subscription programming were the top paying industries for photographers in 2010. Photographers employed in the motion picture and video industries earned an annual mean wage of $76,210. The Aerospace product and parts manufacturing industry paid an annual mean wage of $64,170. Photographers working in the cable and other subscription programming earned $54,640. Professional photographers employed in scientific research and development services earned $52,980, and photographers employed in printing and related support activities earned $52,540 in 2010.
  
  

Geographic Location

• In 2010, photographers in the District of Columbia earned $56,110 annually, according to the BLS. Connecticut photographers earned $53,810 per year and photographers in New York earned $48,630 annually. Photographers employed in Illinois earned an annual mean wage of $45,220 compared to Virginia photographers who earned $43,390 annually. Utah photographers earned an annual mean wage of $29,400. Photographers working in Indiana earned $27,680 and Missouri photographers earned $26,310 in 2010.
  
  

Specialization

• Forensic photographers preserve evidence through photography. According to TheForensicNurse.com, a forensic photographer salary ranges from $45,780 to $53,290. Photojournalists capture newsworthy events on film. Many photojournalists specialize in a particular area of reporting. A photojournalist can expect a starting salary of $14,640, and average salary of $24,040 and a maximum salary of $49,920 per SchoolsintheUSA.com.