Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in Ohio (2026)
Photographers in Ohio earn a median $38,470 a year ($18.50 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 14% below the US median of $44,660; Ohio is 32nd of 50 states and territories. That is below the $49,380 median for all jobs in Ohio.
- $38,470median a year in Ohio
- $18.50median an hour
- −14%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 1,540employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in Ohio?
Half of photographers in Ohio earn between $31,650 and $53,180. Pay is more spread out than nationally: the top 10% earn at least 3.4 times what the bottom 10% earn, against 3.0 times across the US.
| 10th percentile | $23,670 | $30,820 | $11.38 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $31,650 | $36,050 | $15.22 |
| Median | $38,470 | $44,660 | $18.50 |
| 75th | $53,180 | $62,740 | $25.57 |
| 90th percentile | $80,990 | $91,810 | $38.94 |
The mean (average) is $46,780, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Ohio compare with other states?
Ohio sits 32nd of 50, between Missouri ($39,170) and Iowa ($38,290).
| Indiana | $35,960 | −7% | 810 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $47,170 | +23% | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,520 | +5% | 1,870 |
| West Virginia | $36,110 | −6% | 110 |
Which cities in Ohio pay photographers best?
Of the 7 metro areas in Ohio where BLS publishes a median for the job, Cincinnati pays most, at $43,040, 12% above the state median.
| Columbus, OH | 310 | $41,390 | $19.90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 290 | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Cleveland, OH | 290 | $42,090 | $20.24 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 130 | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Akron, OH | 80 | $36,100 | $17.35 |
| Toledo, OH | 80 | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 60 | $36,580 | $17.59 |
How many photographers work in Ohio?
BLS estimates 1,540 employee jobs, 0.28 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 0.83).
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 Ohio?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than photographers do.
| UX/UI designer | $83,360 | 2,520 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $67,000 | 200 |
| Copywriter | $65,930 | 830 |
| Videographer | $64,860 | 520 |
| Graphic designer | $60,080 | 7,280 |
| Video editor | $56,410 | 340 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Ohio's employee median of $18.50 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 Ohio?
The median is $38,470 a year and the mean is $46,780, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,540 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in Ohio?
The median hourly wage is $18.50. The bottom 10% earn under $11.38 and the top 10% over $38.94.
What does a starting photographer earn in Ohio?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in Ohio earn under $31,650 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $23,670, 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 = 1,540 jobs in the Ohio 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