How to Become a Photographer
Make a living behind the camera, from portraits and events to commercial and editorial work. It typically requires a postsecondary certificate, with a median salary of $44,660 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$44,660/yr
Middle half
$36,050 to $62,740
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
12,700
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Photography
- Lighting
- Photo Editing
- Client Relationships
- Business Basics
Helpful certifications
- Portfolio
- PPA Certified Professional Photographer
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
63/100
Work-life balance
43/100
Stress level
46/100
Related careers
- Art Director$114,850 median
- Animator / Special Effects Artist$102,030 median
- Industrial Designer$83,910 median
- Fashion Designer$80,960 median
- Editor$77,920 median
- Writer / Author$76,910 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Photographer make?
The median pay for a Photographer is $44,660 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $36,050 and $62,740 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Photographer?
The usual entry point is a postsecondary certificate. Common majors are Photography, Fine Arts, and Digital Media.
Is Photographer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 12,700 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Photographer use most?
Common skills for this role are Photography, Lighting, Photo Editing, Client Relationships, and Business Basics.
Planning to become a Photographer?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).