Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in District of Columbia (2026)
Photographers in District of Columbia earn a median $110,970 a year ($53.35 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 148% more than the US median of $44,660, and the highest of 50 states and territories with published figures. The median for every job in District of Columbia is $91,540, so this pays 21% more than the typical job there.
- $110,970median a year in District of Columbia
- $53.35median an hour
- +148%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 260employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in District of Columbia?
Half of photographers in District of Columbia earn between $83,170 and $125,220. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (3.2 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $46,080 | $30,820 | $22.15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $83,170 | $36,050 | $39.99 |
| Median | $110,970 | $44,660 | $53.35 |
| 75th | $125,220 | $62,740 | $60.20 |
| 90th percentile | $148,360 | $91,810 | $71.33 |
The mean (average) is $104,630, below the median.
How does District of Columbia compare with other states?
District of Columbia pays photographers more than any other state: its median is 85% above second-placed New York.
How many photographers work in District of Columbia?
BLS estimates 260 employee jobs, 0.38 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.13).
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 District of Columbia?
1 of the 5 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in District of Columbia.
| Copywriter | $129,300 | 1,050 |
|---|---|---|
| UX/UI designer | $107,650 | 480 |
| Video editor | $98,830 | 370 |
| Videographer | $98,300 | 240 |
| Graphic designer | $87,920 | 1,150 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. District of Columbia's employee median of $53.35 an hour is above that range, and a freelancer also has to cover unpaid hours, kit and tax. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average photographer salary in District of Columbia?
The median is $110,970 a year and the mean is $104,630, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 260 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in District of Columbia?
The median hourly wage is $53.35. The bottom 10% earn under $22.15 and the top 10% over $71.33.
What does a starting photographer earn in District of Columbia?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in District of Columbia earn under $83,170 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $46,080, 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 = 260 jobs in the District of Columbia estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Photographer pay in other states
- 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
- Maryland $46,450