Photographers
Also called: Commercial Photographer, Photographer, Photojournalist, Portrait PhotographerPhotograph 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.
On a phone, press and hold a picture to save it to Photos.
opens your phone's share sheet, where you can save both to Photos
What the data says: AI could halve the time on 12 of its 28 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 0.7% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 5.1% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 65% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,130 | $28,470 to $55,760 | 530 |
| Alaska | $39,190 | $36,650 to $55,290 | 50 |
| Arizona | $36,970 | $34,640 to $46,660 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $32,810 | $27,150 to $37,280 | 240 |
| California | $47,840 | $38,410 to $72,100 | 7,980 |
| Colorado | $47,070 | $38,730 to $69,990 | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $49,790 | $44,300 to $69,730 | 630 |
| Delaware | $50,100 | $35,380 to $60,200 | 180 |
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | $83,170 to $125,220 | 260 |
| Florida | $42,640 | $33,890 to $64,890 | 4,390 |
| Georgia | $43,770 | $32,120 to $72,860 | 1,420 |
| Hawaii | $45,960 | $35,730 to $59,710 | 440 |
| Idaho | $33,320 | $28,080 to $45,130 | 190 |
| Illinois | $36,570 | $32,300 to $57,590 | 2,150 |
| Indiana | $35,960 | $30,840 to $47,200 | 810 |
| Iowa | $38,290 | $23,670 to $49,440 | 430 |
| Kansas | $37,790 | $34,240 to $50,470 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $47,170 | $30,200 to $59,600 | 380 |
| Louisiana | $36,830 | $26,240 to $56,550 | 510 |
| Maine | $46,680 | $36,030 to $64,550 | 180 |
| Maryland | $46,450 | $36,300 to $81,180 | 790 |
| Massachusetts | $57,990 | $43,410 to $98,490 | 830 |
| Michigan | not published | not published | 970 |
| Minnesota | $46,470 | $44,450 to $65,050 | 730 |
| Mississippi | $45,860 | $35,130 to $58,030 | 190 |
| Missouri | $39,170 | $31,880 to $58,250 | 950 |
| Montana | $39,900 | $28,910 to $52,000 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $41,920 | $30,990 to $61,580 | 220 |
| Nevada | $37,460 | $26,940 to $47,620 | 890 |
| New Hampshire | $44,780 | $35,300 to $59,290 | 220 |
| New Jersey | $40,520 | $36,400 to $60,740 | 1,460 |
| New Mexico | $48,090 | $40,980 to $67,030 | 230 |
| New York | $60,050 | $43,080 to $93,620 | 3,650 |
| North Carolina | $37,120 | $33,170 to $52,660 | 2,130 |
| North Dakota | $37,410 | $36,070 to $50,850 | 70 |
| Ohio | $38,470 | $31,650 to $53,180 | 1,540 |
| Oklahoma | $36,750 | $21,180 to $49,980 | 330 |
| Oregon | $53,630 | $42,560 to $80,680 | 510 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,520 | $34,040 to $55,870 | 1,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,060 | $27,700 to $40,460 | 90 |
| Rhode Island | $37,300 | $35,080 to $57,850 | 220 |
| South Carolina | $37,890 | $27,940 to $56,890 | 630 |
| South Dakota | $45,330 | $35,090 to $50,150 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $37,950 | $32,780 to $51,540 | 780 |
| Texas | $41,280 | $34,980 to $51,510 | 4,330 |
| Utah | $52,140 | $34,150 to $62,200 | 660 |
| Vermont | not published | not published | 60 |
| Virginia | $46,550 | $35,640 to $55,800 | 1,580 |
| Washington | $48,050 | $40,690 to $65,450 | 960 |
| West Virginia | $36,110 | $35,400 to $45,770 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $42,060 | $37,110 to $56,940 | 850 |
| Wyoming | $39,330 | $30,530 to $50,130 | 50 |
Nationally: $44,660. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 12 of its 28 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments. | Not published |
| AI + software | Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software. | under 0.01% |
See all 28 tasks
| Not much | Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location. | Not published |
| Not much | Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order. | Not published |
| AI + software | Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas. | Not published |
| AI + software | Perform general office duties, such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review sets of photographs to select the best work. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up, mount, or install photographic equipment and cameras. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine project goals, locations, and equipment needs by studying assignments and consulting with clients or advertising staff. | Not published |
| Not much | Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques. | Not published |
| Not much | Select and assemble equipment and required background properties, according to subjects, materials, and conditions. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly. | Not published |
| Not much | Direct activities of workers setting up photographic equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Mount, frame, laminate, or lacquer finished photographs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Engage in research to develop new photographic procedures and materials. | Not published |
| AI + software | Set up photographic exhibitions for the purpose of displaying and selling work. | Not published |
| AI alone | Write photograph captions. | 0.02% |
| Not much | Send film to photofinishing laboratories for processing. | Not published |
| AI + software | Produce computer-readable, digital images from film, using flatbed scanners and photofinishing laboratories. | Not published |
| Not much | Develop visual aids and charts for use in lectures or to present evidence in court. | Not published |
| Not much | Employ a variety of specialized photographic materials and techniques, including infrared and ultraviolet films, macro photography, photogrammetry and sensitometry. | Not published |
| Not much | Load and unload film. | Not published |
| AI + software | License the use of photographs through stock photo agencies. | Not published |
| Not much | Develop and print exposed film, using chemicals, touch-up tools, and developing and printing equipment. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 4 of the 28 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 28 tasks fall under 20 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #23 Prepare informational or instructional materials
- #27 Research technology designs or applications
- and 4 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set up equipment | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Operate audiovisual or related equipment | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Prepare informational or instructional materials | |||
| Research technology designs or applications |
Show all 20 activities
| Study details of artistic productions | |||
| Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications | |||
| Create decorative objects or parts of objects | |||
| Obtain formal documentation or authorization | |||
| Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment | |||
| Apply decorative finishes | |||
| Arrange displays or decorations | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Process shipments or mail | |||
| Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products | |||
| Operate industrial processing or production equipment |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report32%
- Marketing or social media content19%
- An image or graphic8%
- A script or snippet4%
- An explanation or answer3%
How they worked with Claude
52% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for photographers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 116,613 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 2 Editors Very high -1.1% 4%
- 3 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 3%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 3%
- 5 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 116,751 moves in
- 1 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 4%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 3 Editors Very high -1.1% 3%
- 4 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 3%
- 5 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 9% less than high school
- 18% high school
- 14% postsecondary certificate
- 27% some college
- 14% associate's
- 14% bachelor's
- 5% post-bachelor's certificate
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 22 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 3% less than high school
- 15% high school
- 22% some college
- 10% associate's
- 41% bachelor's
- 7% master's
- 1% professional degree
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 2,089 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
6 programs, such as Photojournalism, Visual and Performing Arts, General and Digital Arts.
See all
- Photojournalism
- Visual and Performing Arts, General
- Digital Arts
- Commercial Photography
- Photography
- Art/Art Studies, General
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (PHOTOGRAPHER, STILL). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Photographers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/27-4021.00