The salary statistics of photographers in the industry sector of arts, entertainment, and recreation are shown in Table 1. In Table 2 we compare photographers salaries in different industries within the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector.
| Percentile Bracket | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile Wage | $19,270 |
| 25th Percentile Wage | $22,750 |
| 50th Percentile Wage | $29,030 |
| 75th Percentile Wage | $49,960 |
| 90th Percentile Wage | $68,930 |
Table 1 shows the average annual salary for photographers in the industry sector of arts, entertainment, and recreation. The salaries are shown in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) photographers is $68,930. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $29,030. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent paid photographers is $19,270.
The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of photographers in the industry sector of arts, entertainment, and recreation from 2012 to 2018.
| Year | Median Salary | Yearly Growth | 6-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $29,030 | 7.10% | 17.60% |
| 2017 | $26,970 | -9.90% | - |
| 2016 | $29,640 | 3.21% | - |
| 2015 | $28,690 | -5.44% | - |
| 2014 | $30,250 | 10.78% | - |
| 2013 | $26,990 | 11.37% | - |
| 2012 | $23,920 | - | - |
The average salaries of photographers in four industries in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector are shown below. We note that within this industry sector, the salaries vary among different industries. The highest paying industry for photographers occupations is the promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events industry with an annual salary $43,700. The lowest paying industry is the theater companies and dinner theaters industry (annual salary $19,090). For detailed photographers salary information in a particular industry, use the links provided below.
| Industry Name | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | |
| Performing Arts Companies | |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | |
Data source: The national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2018 and published in April 2019 [1].