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Creative & Media

Photographers

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.

Median salary (BLS)

$44,660

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$31k – $92k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $91,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Photographers

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$8,000–$22,000

Time to qualify

2 yr

Renewal

—

  1. 1

    Associate degree (community college)

    Degree

    Two years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.

    $8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Photographers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Photographers

    Entry / Junior

    $30,820

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Photographers

    Established

    $44,660

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Photographers

    Senior

    $68,235

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
  • •Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
  • •Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
  • •Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
  • •Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Creative & Media

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.