Photographers Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 7,980 employed
Annual Mean
$70,040
$33.67/hr
Annual Median
$47,840
$23.00/hr
Bottom 10%
$36,470
$17.54/hr
Top 10%
$125,490
$60.33/hr
Location vs National Average
California
$70,040
Difference
+26.4% vs US avg
US National
$55,410
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $36,470 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $38,410 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $47,840 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $72,100 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $125,490 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$36K
25th
$38K
Median
$48K
75th
$72K
90th
$125K
California has a moderate number of Photographers positions (approximately 7,980), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In California, Photographers salaries range from $36,470 at the 10th percentile to $125,490 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $89,020 (186% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Photographers wages
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$83,790
per year
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$75,490
per year
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$73,520
per year
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$72,250
per year
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$72,200
per year
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$60,580
per year
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$59,300
per year
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$56,670
per year
How Photographers Compares in California
The average Photographers salary of $70,040 in California ranks above the national average of $55,410. There are approximately 7,980 Photographerss employed in California.
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Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.