As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Photographer I in the United States is $56,847. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $46,458 to a high of $68,535, with most professionals earning between $51,409 and $62,965.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $62,965 | $5,247 | $1,211 | $30 |
| Average | $56,847 | $4,737 | $1,093 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,409 | $4,284 | $989 | $25 |
An entry-level Photographer I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $56,441. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $57,030. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $58,399. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $58,673, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $58,856.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Photographer I | $56,441 |
| Intermediate Level Photographer I | $57,030 |
| Senior Level Photographer I | $58,399 |
| Specialist Level Photographer I | $58,673 |
| Expert Level Photographer I | $58,856 |
| Entry Level | 1% |
| Mid Level | 0% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 4% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Photographer I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $55,350 in 2023 to approximately $55,613 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Photographer I salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Photographer I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Photographer I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Photographer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $56,847 | 68.4% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $4,349 | 5.2% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,388 | 2.9% | ||
| Disability | $1,137 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 10.0% | ||
| Pension | $3,070 | 3.7% | ||
| Time Off | $6,997 | 8.4% | ||
| Total Compensation | $83,139 | 100% | ||
The average annual salary of Photographer I is $56,847. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Photographer I is $27; the average weekly pay of Photographer I is $1,093; the average monthly pay of Photographer I is $4,737.
A Photographer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Photographer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Photographer I is $71,701.
The highest pay for Photographer I is $68,535.
The lowest pay for Photographer I is $46,458.
Uses photographic and video equipment to capture a subject, place, or event. Understands and adheres to photography/videography guidelines and standards. Has thorough knowledge and experience with concepts like composition, lighting, and balance. Helps sift through content to identify valuable photos or videos. May stage subjects or areas for capture and may work directly with clients. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Early Childhood Education: Early childhood education, also known as nursery education, is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of children from birth up to the age of eight.
Videography: Videography is the process of capturing moving images on electronic media and even streaming media.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
