California Median
$47,840
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.00
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+7% vs US median
US median $44,660
State Rank
#10 of 49
7,980 employed here
How much does a Photographer make in California?
A Photographer working in California earns a median salary of $47,840 per year, or about $23.00 per hour. That is 7% above the national median of $44,660 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $36,470 while the top 10% make $125,490 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,410 and $72,100 a year.
Photographer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,470 | $17.53 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,410 | $18.47 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $47,840 | $23.00 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $72,100 | $34.66 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,490 | $60.33 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 10th out of 49 states and territories for Photographer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Photographer salary in other states
District of Columbia $110,970New York $60,050Massachusetts $57,990Oregon $53,630Utah $52,140Delaware $50,100Connecticut $49,790New Mexico $48,090Washington $48,050Kentucky $47,170Colorado $47,070Maine $46,680Virginia $46,550Minnesota $46,470Maryland $46,450Hawaii $45,960Mississippi $45,860South Dakota $45,330New Hampshire $44,780Georgia $43,770Florida $42,640Wisconsin $42,060Nebraska $41,920Texas $41,280New Jersey $40,520Pennsylvania $40,520Montana $39,900Wyoming $39,330Alaska $39,190Missouri $39,170Ohio $38,470Iowa $38,290Tennessee $37,950South Carolina $37,890Kansas $37,790Nevada $37,460North Dakota $37,410Rhode Island $37,300North Carolina $37,120Arizona $36,970Louisiana $36,830Oklahoma $36,750Illinois $36,570Alabama $36,130West Virginia $36,110Indiana $35,960Idaho $33,320Arkansas $32,810
Working as a Photographer in California
Nationally, about 52,000 people work as Photographers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($47,840) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Photographer make in California?
The median Photographer salary in California is $47,840 per year, or about $23.00 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,470 at the entry level to $125,490 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Photographers about 7% more than the national median of $44,660. California ranks 10th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Photographers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $47,840 a year. About 7,980 Photographers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Photographer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.