Photographers Salary in California
State wage data from the BLS OEWS survey, May 2025.
Median annual
$47,840
Median hourly
$23
Average annual
$70,040
Employed in state
8.0K
The median annual salary for Photographers in California is $47,840, or about $23 an hour. That is 7% higher than the national median.
Pay in California ranges from $36,470 at the 10th percentile to $125,490 at the 90th percentile. Roughly 8.0K people work as photographers in the state.
Pay distribution in California
10th$36,470
25th$38,410
Median$47,840
75th$72,100
90th$125,490
Salary calculator
- Hourly
- $23.00
- Daily
- $184
- Weekly
- $920
- Bi-weekly
- $1,840
- Monthly
- $3,987
- Annual
- $47,840
$47,840 a year is around the 50th percentile for Photographerss in California. The median is $47,840.
Photographers pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,840 | 880 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $56,220 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,220 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $52,470 | 210 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50,500 | 60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $48,790 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,840 | 4.3K |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,620 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,880 | 290 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,240 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $44,030 | 620 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $43,870 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,710 | 460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $43,040 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,520 | 140 |
Other jobs in California
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
- Retail Salespersons$35,410
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Registered Nurses$97,550
- Cashiers$32,880
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- General and Operations Managers$105,770
- Software Developers$135,980
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Security Guards$38,020
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Accountants and Auditors$83,680
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$69,990