Photography Editor Salary in the United States

How much does a Photography Editor make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Photography Editor in the United States is $68,708 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a Photography Editor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,927
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,805 to $74,057
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,519
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View as table View as graph 25% $61,805 10% $55,519 90% $78,927 75% $74,057 $68,708 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Photography Editor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $74,057 $6,171 $1,424 $36
Average $68,708 $5,726 $1,321 $33
25th Percentile $61,805 $5,150 $1,189 $30
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Key Factors That Influence Photography Editor Salaries

A Photography Editor's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Photography Editor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Photography Editor's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $68,037
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $68,229
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $70,545
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,780
  • Expert (over 8 years): $72,940
Levels Salary
Entry Level Photography Editor$68,037
Intermediate Level Photography Editor$68,229
Senior Level Photography Editor$70,545
Specialist Level Photography Editor$72,780
Expert Level Photography Editor$72,940
$68,037 0 yr
$68,229 < 2 yrs
$70,545 2-4 yrs
$72,780 5-8 yrs
$72,940 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Photography Editor Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Photography Editors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $76,073.
  • California: $75,785.
  • Massachusetts: $74,775.

Top Paying Cities for Photography Editors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $86,661
  • San Francisco: $85,713
  • Oakland: $83,906

What Skills Can Increase a Photography Editor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Flexibility (Mentioned in 3.09% Job Postings): Adapting, responding to, and dealing with the changing environment and new situations.
  • Product Development (Mentioned in 2.44% Job Postings): Overseeing the creation of new products or improvement of the performance, cost, or quality of existing products to achieve business goals.
  • Google Analytics (Mentioned in 2.15% Job Postings): Google Analytics is a web analytics service that provides statistics and basic analytical tools for search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing purposes.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Flexibility 3.09%
Product Development 2.44%
Google Analytics 2.15%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Photography Editor's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Content Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Content Creation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
$75,579
10%
Content Management
$74,892
9%
Content Creation
$73,518
7%
HTML
$72,143
5%
Communicates Effectively
$72,143
5%
KPI
$72,143
5%
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Photography Editor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Photography Editor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Photography Editor positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Photography Editor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Photography Editor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$89,320$43.030%
Financial Services$82,450$40.020%
Internet$79,014$38.015%
Biotechnology$75,579$36.010%
Media$75,579$36.010%

Photography Editor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Photography Editor's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Photography Editor

Salaries for a Photography Editor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $68,751 in 2023 to around $68,250 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Photography Editor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Photography Editor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$68,751
2024
$68,545
2025
$68,250
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $68,751
2024 $68,545
2025 $68,250
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Photography Editor

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Photography Editor

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Photography Editor job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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