How Much Do Professional Photographers Get Paid?
If you're great with a camera, and people are always saying you should become a professional photographer, you've probably given it at least some thought. You're in good company --- the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that competition for photography jobs is high, but depending on the type of photography you choose and where you wish to work, the pay may not be so attractive.
Other People Are Reading
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Industry
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The pay for professional photographers can vary wildly depending upon the setting. The BLS's statistical information about industries that employ photographers reveals that some industries have a much higher rate of pay than others. Photographers employed in scientific, technical services and portrait photography can expect to make in the mid $30,000s annually, while television, newspaper and other media photographers usually make around $40,000 a year. Photographers who work in the entertainment industry or aerospace engineering can expect to make between $60,000 and $75,000 per year.
Metropolitan Areas
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Next to industry, the factor that most influences the rate of pay for a professional photographer is whether or not you are employed in a metropolitan area. According to the BLS, professional photographers in such large metropolitan areas as New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. report average annual earnings of between $54,000 and $64,000, while professional photographers in rural areas such as Rapid City, S.D., and Burlington, N.C. report annual earnings of around $25,000.
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Self-Employment
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Potential professional photographers who wish to work for themselves should be warned that occupational costs can eat into wages significantly. Self-employed photographers must purchase their own equipment, including cameras, computers, and sets; provide their own office and studio space; hire, train and pay their own employees; and pay for their own insurance, retirement and other benefits. More than half of the 150,000 people employed as photographers in 2008 were self-employed, according to the BLS.
Growth Potential
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The BLS expects that the field of photography will grow, adding over 17,000 jobs between 2008 and 2018. However, the BLS warns that some of the best-paying jobs in the professional photography field may disappear during this time, citing the decline in jobs in the print media industry and the rise of amateur photography and the Internet as threats to professional photography jobs.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit photographer image by Jana Lumley from Fotolia.com
