Illinois Median
$36,570
per year
Hourly Rate
$17.58
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-18% vs US median
US median $44,660
State Rank
#44 of 49
2,150 employed here
How much does a Photographer make in Illinois?
Photographers in Illinois take home a median of $36,570 annually — roughly $17.58 an hour — which runs 18% below the national median of $44,660.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $31,200 while the top 10% make $96,770 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,300 and $57,590 a year.
Photographer salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $32,300 | $15.53 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $36,570 | $17.58 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $57,590 | $27.69 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,770 | $46.52 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 44th 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 $48,050California $47,840Kentucky $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 $36,750Alabama $36,130West Virginia $36,110Indiana $35,960Idaho $33,320Arkansas $32,810
Working as a Photographer in Illinois
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 Illinois pay ($36,570) 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 Illinois?
The median Photographer salary in Illinois is $36,570 per year, or about $17.58 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $31,200 at the entry level to $96,770 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Photographers about 18% less than the national median of $44,660. Illinois ranks 44th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Photographers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $36,570 a year. About 2,150 Photographers are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), 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.