Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in Arizona (2026)
Photographers in Arizona earn a median $36,970 a year ($17.77 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 17% below the US median of $44,660; Arizona is 41st of 50 states and territories. That is below the $50,060 median for all jobs in Arizona.
- $36,970median a year in Arizona
- $17.77median an hour
- −17%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 1,360employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in Arizona?
Half of photographers in Arizona earn between $34,640 and $46,660. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.6 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $32,080 | $30,820 | $15.42 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $34,640 | $36,050 | $16.65 |
| Median | $36,970 | $44,660 | $17.77 |
| 75th | $46,660 | $62,740 | $22.43 |
| 90th percentile | $84,130 | $91,810 | $40.45 |
The mean (average) is $47,330, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Arizona compare with other states?
Arizona sits 41st of 50, between North Carolina ($37,120) and Louisiana ($36,830).
| California | $47,840 | +29% | 7,980 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $47,070 | +27% | 1,140 |
| Nevada | $37,460 | +1% | 890 |
| New Mexico | $48,090 | +30% | 230 |
| Utah | $52,140 | +41% | 660 |
Which cities in Arizona pay photographers best?
Of the 3 metro areas in Arizona where BLS publishes a median for the job, Tucson pays most, at $43,360, 17% above the state median.
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,140 | $36,970 | $17.77 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 60 | $43,360 | $20.85 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 40 | $34,010 | $16.35 |
How many photographers work in Arizona?
BLS estimates 1,360 employee jobs, 0.42 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is concentrated here: Arizona's share of employment in it is 1.26 times the national share (BLS's location quotient).
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in Arizona?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than photographers do.
| UX/UI designer | $98,070 | 810 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $89,650 | 190 |
| Videographer | $68,250 | 520 |
| Graphic designer | $58,510 | 3,560 |
| Copywriter | $55,990 | 600 |
| Video editor | $45,840 | 350 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Arizona's employee median of $17.77 an hour is below that range. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average photographer salary in Arizona?
The median is $36,970 a year and the mean is $47,330, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,360 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in Arizona?
The median hourly wage is $17.77. The bottom 10% earn under $15.42 and the top 10% over $40.45.
What does a starting photographer earn in Arizona?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in Arizona earn under $34,640 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $32,080, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 27-4021, Photographers. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 1,360 jobs in the Arizona estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Photographer pay in other states
- District of Columbia $110,970
- New York $60,050
- Massachusetts $57,990
- Oregon $53,630
- Utah $52,140
- Connecticut $49,790
- Washington $48,050
- California $47,840
- Kentucky $47,170
- Colorado $47,070
- Virginia $46,550
- Minnesota $46,470