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Job outlook for chief photographers in the United States
Are chief photographer jobs in demand?
Chief Photographer job and salary trends over time
Chief Photographer jobs over time
Chief Photographer job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,204 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,304 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,587 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,554 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,546 | 0.00% |
Average chief photographer salary over time
Chief Photographer salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,178 | $18.35 | +13.8% |
| 2024 | $33,554 | $16.13 | +6.7% |
| 2023 | $31,445 | $15.12 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $30,048 | $14.45 | --4.6% |
| 2021 | $31,510 | $15.15 | +7.4% |
Chief Photographer jobs by state
Most common states for chief photographers
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 163 | 23% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 41 | 4% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 241 | 3% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 220 | 3% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 154 | 3% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 111 | 3% |
| 7 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 93 | 3% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 21 | 3% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 17 | 3% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 735 | 2% |
| 11 | New York | 19,849,399 | 400 | 2% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 208 | 2% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 201 | 2% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 107 | 2% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 88 | 2% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 54 | 2% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 39 | 2% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 27 | 2% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 23 | 2% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 14 | 2% |
Most common cities for chief photographers
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Topeka | 1 | 1% | $34,191 |
Chief Photographer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chief photographer experts
University of the Pacific
Stevenson University
Jennifer Little
Associate Professor of PhotographyUniversity of the Pacific
Film/Video And Photographic Arts
What general advice would you give to a Chief Photographer?
Jennifer Little: If you want to maximize your salary potential, it is good to have multiple specialties, or sub-specialties within Photography and Media. However, it is also critical to understand your audience and tailor the portfolio you submit to a specific type of job, client, or audience, just as you would your résumé. The type and style of photographs you would include in Fine Art, Documentary, Editorial or Commercial Photography Portfolios are very different. Commercial Photography also has many subspecialties, including Portrait Photography, Fashion Photography, Wedding Photography, Product Photography, and Architectural Photography, among others. Most photographers set up completely different web sites featuring their portfolios in these and other specialties because potential clients want to see that they have in-depth knowledge and previous work in the type of photography that they need. For example, if you have a portfolio of gritty documentary photojournalism, you will usually not want to show that to possible clients for your wedding photography, and you should keep these portfolios on different web sites. It is important to know that most Photographers are freelancers now, unless you teach Photography at an academic institution. You will need to learn how to promote yourself and your work as a freelance small business. Many people get started in this area by working as assistants for more established photographers who already have a large studio and freelance client base.
What Chief Photographer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer Little: It is very common for Photographers to also work as Videographers, especially for those who document live events, weddings, or sports, as well as people doing traditional Photojournalism or Documentary work. If you are interested in working in these areas, you should combine still Photography and short Videos of related subjects together in your portfolio. New AI image generating technology will have the least impact on Documentary, Journalism and Event Photography, where there is an expectation that photographs or videos document unadulterated reality. If you want to specialize in areas like Portrait, Fashion, Architectural or Product Photography, it will be extremely important to incorporate new AI image generating tools like Adobe Photoshop's Generative Fill into your workflow. AI image generating tools can be very useful for pre-visualization and modification of your original photographs of products, clothing, or interior designs, for example. AI will be used by product designers, fashion designers, and interior decorators to modify photographs with different design concepts. There is also great demand for licensed drone pilots to do commercial aerial photography and videography.
What will help Chief Photographers increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Little: A strong portfolio of your original artwork is the most important factor in finding professional work in Photography, as well as Art and Media in general. You should put your photography portfolio on well-organized portfolio web sites, and also promote your work through social media. It is extremely important that your photography portfolio demonstrates your depth of knowledge and skill in a specific specialty, style or subject matter. Photographers are usually expected to create thematic series of work or 'photo essays' that tell a long form story about a specific subject through a series of photographs. Submitting your work to Photography competitions or attending portfolio reviews like FotoFest is a good way to show your work to high-level professionals in the field and get feedback about your portfolio.
Elena Volkova
Professor of Art and DesignStevenson University
Design And Applied Arts
What general advice would you give to a Chief Photographer?
Elena Volkova: One way to maximize salary potential is to understand professional practices such as contracts, creative fees, licensing, copyright, etc. Emerging professionals must be confident in the value of their work and not undervalue it.
What Chief Photographer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Elena Volkova: In addition to creative and technical skills, people skills are the most important. Commitment to one's work and ability to develop ideas will be even more important as technical tools become easier.
What will help Chief Photographers increase their earning potential?
Elena Volkova: My advice to graduating photography students is to be open to a variety of opportunities to build skills. Say 'yes' to every gig and learn from every opportunity. Additionally, having a personal project that will drive a photographer's creative process is extremely important.