Photographers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$42,520
~$20/hr · ~$3,543/mo
US Jobs
151K
Slower than average
AI & Automation Risk
7/10
High Risk
AI & Automation Risk
High Risk 7/10
Photography is a hybrid role where the physical act of capturing real-world events (weddings, news, portraits) provides a buffer, but the digital output is highly vulnerable to AI. Generative AI can now create high-quality commercial and stock imagery from scratch and automate complex post-production tasks, significantly reducing the billable hours and demand for professional photographers in commercial and creative sectors.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MNBEST VALUE | $78,870 | Below avg (93.0) | $84,845 |
| Bend, OR | $72,760 | Above avg (105.3) | $69,114 |
| Springfield, MA | $64,880 | Average (98.1) | $66,158 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $75,070 | Above avg (117.6) | $63,862 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $57,800 | Below avg (91.2) | $63,381 |
| Montgomery, AL | $53,640 | Below avg (89.9) | $59,642 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $57,550 | Average (97.3) | $59,142 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $53,770 | Below avg (91.2) | $58,937 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $60,270 | Above avg (104.3) | $57,784 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,340 | Above avg (110.4) | $57,377 |
| Springfield, MO | $50,380 | Below avg (89.1) | $56,537 |
| Lafayette, LA | $48,320 | Below avg (87.6) | $55,189 |
| Salem, OR | $56,190 | Average (102.5) | $54,841 |
| Dover, DE | $50,040 | Below avg (91.9) | $54,434 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $50,590 | Below avg (93.0) | $54,383 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
10-Year Growth
+2% (Slower than average)
Hourly Rate
~$20/hr
Monthly Income
~$3,543/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)