Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in New York (2026)
Photographers in New York earn a median $60,050 a year ($28.87 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 34% more than the US median of $44,660, and 2nd-highest of 50 states and territories with published figures. That is roughly what the typical job in New York pays ($59,670).
- $60,050median a year in New York
- $28.87median an hour
- +34%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 3,650employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in New York?
Half of photographers in New York earn between $43,080 and $93,620. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.9 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $37,890 | $30,820 | $18.22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $43,080 | $36,050 | $20.71 |
| Median | $60,050 | $44,660 | $28.87 |
| 75th | $93,620 | $62,740 | $45.01 |
| 90th percentile | $109,470 | $91,810 | $52.63 |
The mean (average) is $71,710, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does New York compare with other states?
New York is in the top five for photographers' pay. Only District of Columbia pays more.
| Connecticut | $49,790 | −17% | 630 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $57,990 | −3% | 830 |
| New Jersey | $40,520 | −33% | 1,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,520 | −33% | 1,870 |
Which cities in New York pay photographers best?
Of the 7 metro areas in New York where BLS publishes a median for the job, New York-Newark-Jersey City pays most, at $60,050.
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,590 | $60,050 | $28.87 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 150 | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 140 | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 130 | $50,940 | $24.49 |
| Rochester, NY | 120 | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Syracuse, NY | 80 | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Kingston, NY | 30 | $42,960 | $20.65 |
How many photographers work in New York?
BLS estimates 3,650 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 New York?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than photographers do.
| UX/UI designer | $120,990 | 16,560 |
|---|---|---|
| Video editor | $103,440 | 3,710 |
| Motion designer | $96,770 | 1,540 |
| Videographer | $93,410 | 2,930 |
| Graphic designer | $77,340 | 14,530 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. New York's employee median of $28.87 an hour is inside that range. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average photographer salary in New York?
The median is $60,050 a year and the mean is $71,710, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 3,650 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in New York?
The median hourly wage is $28.87. The bottom 10% earn under $18.22 and the top 10% over $52.63.
What does a starting photographer earn in New York?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in New York earn under $43,080 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $37,890, 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 = 3,650 jobs in the New York estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Photographer pay in other states
- District of Columbia $110,970
- 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