Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in New Jersey (2026)
Photographers in New Jersey earn a median $40,520 a year ($19.48 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($44,660), 26th of 50 states and territories. That is below the $58,570 median for all jobs in New Jersey.
- $40,520median a year in New Jersey
- $19.48median an hour
- −9%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 1,460employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in New Jersey?
Half of photographers in New Jersey earn between $36,400 and $60,740. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.6 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $34,990 | $30,820 | $16.82 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $36,400 | $36,050 | $17.50 |
| Median | $40,520 | $44,660 | $19.48 |
| 75th | $60,740 | $62,740 | $29.20 |
| 90th percentile | $91,780 | $91,810 | $44.13 |
The mean (average) is $53,410, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does New Jersey compare with other states?
New Jersey sits 26th of 50, between Texas ($41,280) and Pennsylvania ($40,520).
| Delaware | $50,100 | +24% | 180 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $60,050 | +48% | 3,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,520 | 0% | 1,870 |
Which cities in New Jersey pay photographers best?
Of the 5 metro areas in New Jersey where BLS publishes a median for the job, New York-Newark-Jersey City pays most, at $60,050, 48% above the state median.
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,590 | $60,050 | $28.87 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 950 | $43,750 | $21.04 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 170 | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 40 | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 40 | $43,940 | $21.13 |
How many photographers work in New Jersey?
BLS estimates 1,460 employee jobs, 0.34 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.02).
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 New Jersey?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than photographers do.
| UX/UI designer | $95,310 | 2,170 |
|---|---|---|
| Video editor | $82,890 | 620 |
| Copywriter | $81,590 | 1,180 |
| Graphic designer | $73,790 | 5,670 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. New Jersey's employee median of $19.48 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 New Jersey?
The median is $40,520 a year and the mean is $53,410, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,460 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in New Jersey?
The median hourly wage is $19.48. The bottom 10% earn under $16.82 and the top 10% over $44.13.
What does a starting photographer earn in New Jersey?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in New Jersey earn under $36,400 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $34,990, 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 = 1,460 jobs in the New Jersey 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