Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in Kentucky (2026)
Photographers in Kentucky earn a median $47,170 a year ($22.68 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($44,660), 11th of 50 states and territories. That is roughly what the typical job in Kentucky pays ($46,920).
- $47,170median a year in Kentucky
- $22.68median an hour
- +6%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 380employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in Kentucky?
Half of photographers in Kentucky earn between $30,200 and $59,600. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (3.2 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $23,990 | $30,820 | $11.53 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $30,200 | $36,050 | $14.52 |
| Median | $47,170 | $44,660 | $22.68 |
| 75th | $59,600 | $62,740 | $28.65 |
| 90th percentile | $76,490 | $91,810 | $36.77 |
The mean (average) is $49,990, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Kentucky compare with other states?
Kentucky sits 11th of 50, between California ($47,840) and Colorado ($47,070).
Which cities in Kentucky pay photographers best?
Of the 4 metro areas in Kentucky where BLS publishes a median for the job, Louisville/Jefferson County pays most, at $50,000, 6% above the state median.
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 290 | $43,040 | $20.69 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 150 | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 60 | $47,170 | $22.68 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 30 | $42,540 | $20.45 |
How many photographers work in Kentucky?
BLS estimates 380 employee jobs, 0.19 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is rarer here than nationally: a location quotient of 0.57, where 1 is the US average.
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 Kentucky?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than photographers do.
| UX/UI designer | $77,000 | 590 |
|---|---|---|
| Video editor | $62,330 | 60 |
| Videographer | $53,790 | 170 |
| Graphic designer | $52,960 | 2,060 |
| Motion designer | $50,970 | 40 |
| Copywriter | $48,780 | 350 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Kentucky's employee median of $22.68 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 Kentucky?
The median is $47,170 a year and the mean is $49,990, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 380 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in Kentucky?
The median hourly wage is $22.68. The bottom 10% earn under $11.53 and the top 10% over $36.77.
What does a starting photographer earn in Kentucky?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in Kentucky earn under $30,200 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $23,990, 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 = 380 jobs in the Kentucky 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
- Colorado $47,070
- Virginia $46,550
- Minnesota $46,470
- Maryland $46,450