Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in Illinois (2026)
Photographers in Illinois earn a median $36,570 a year ($17.58 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 18% below the US median of $44,660; Illinois is 44th of 50 states and territories. That is below the $51,960 median for all jobs in Illinois.
- $36,570median a year in Illinois
- $17.58median an hour
- −18%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 2,150employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in Illinois?
Half of photographers in Illinois earn between $32,300 and $57,590. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (3.1 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $31,200 | $30,820 | $15.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $32,300 | $36,050 | $15.53 |
| Median | $36,570 | $44,660 | $17.58 |
| 75th | $57,590 | $62,740 | $27.69 |
| 90th percentile | $96,770 | $91,810 | $46.52 |
The mean (average) is $50,600, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Illinois compare with other states?
Illinois sits 44th of 50, between Oklahoma ($36,750) and Alabama ($36,130).
Which cities in Illinois pay photographers best?
Of the 5 metro areas in Illinois where BLS publishes a median for the job, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island pays most, at $43,100, 18% above the state median.
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,590 | $36,810 | $17.70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 420 | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Peoria, IL | 50 | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| Rockford, IL | 40 | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 30 | $43,100 | $20.72 |
How many photographers work in Illinois?
BLS estimates 2,150 employee jobs, 0.35 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.06).
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 Illinois?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than photographers do.
| Videographer | $100,170 | 1,060 |
|---|---|---|
| UX/UI designer | $85,710 | 2,050 |
| Motion designer | $81,180 | 630 |
| Video editor | $72,460 | 310 |
| Copywriter | $68,220 | 2,640 |
| Graphic designer | $62,560 | 8,960 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Illinois's employee median of $17.58 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 Illinois?
The median is $36,570 a year and the mean is $50,600, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 2,150 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in Illinois?
The median hourly wage is $17.58. The bottom 10% earn under $15.00 and the top 10% over $46.52.
What does a starting photographer earn in Illinois?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in Illinois earn under $32,300 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $31,200, 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 = 2,150 jobs in the Illinois 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