Photographers pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim

In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (CA), the median pay for photographers is $23.00 an hour ($47,840 a year). About 4,290 people work in this job there.

$23.00Median hourly pay
$38,410–$79,060Middle half of workers, yearly
4,290People in this job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (CA)

That is 7% higher than the U.S. median ($44,660). It is about the same as the California median ($47,840).

Pay range for photographers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (CA)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$17.53$36,460
25% of workers$18.47$38,410
Half of workers (median)$23.00$47,840
75% of workers$38.01$79,060
90% of workers$63.99$133,090

Photographers pay in California metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$58,840880
Bakersfield-Delano$56,22060
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara$55,22060
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$52,470210
Santa Rosa-Petaluma$50,50060
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles$48,79040
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (this page)$47,8404,290
Stockton-Lodi$46,62040
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$45,880290
Modesto$44,24050
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$44,030620
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$43,87090
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$43,710460
Vallejo$43,040110
Fresno$37,520140

California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for photographers

  • Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: -0.7% over ten years, little or no change · about 10,700 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (CA)

JobMedian yearly pay
Graphic Designers$72,400
Art Directors$137,560
Film and Video Editors$83,210
Special Effects Artists and Animators$124,590
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film$107,620
Prepress Technicians and Workers$51,380
Audio and Video Technicians$64,900
Sound Engineering Technicians$77,850

Other job titles for this job

Photo EditorAdvertising PhotographerAerial PhotographerAutomotive PhotographerBiological PhotographerBiomedical PhotographerCommercial PhotographerCrime Scene PhotographerDigital PhotographerEvent PhotographerFashion PhotographerFinish Photographer

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.