Photographers

At a glance

  • Career Clusters

    Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications

  • Avg. Pay

    $55,650

  • Entry-Level Education

    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Job Outlook

    Slower than average

  • Total US Employment

    51,230

Overview

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.

Job Tasks

  • 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.

Important Subjects

Employment by Industry

Wage Distribution

Average Wages by State

Data provided by:

O*NET in-it Bureau of Labor Statistics