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Editorial Photographer Salary in the United States

How much does an Editorial Photographer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Editorial Photographer in the United States is $71,366 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

However, an Editorial Photographer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,855
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,047 to $76,856
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $59,294
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Editorial Photographer Salaries

An Editorial Photographer'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 Editorial Photographer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Editorial Photographer'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): $68,829
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $69,023
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $71,366
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $73,626
  • Expert (over 8 years): $73,788
Levels Salary
Entry Level Editorial Photographer$68,829
Intermediate Level Editorial Photographer$69,023
Senior Level Editorial Photographer$71,366
Specialist Level Editorial Photographer$73,626
Expert Level Editorial Photographer$73,788
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How Do Editorial Photographer 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 Editorial Photographers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $79,016.
  • California: $78,716.
  • Massachusetts: $77,667.

Top Paying Cities for Editorial Photographers

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: $90,014
  • San Francisco: $89,028
  • Oakland: $87,152

What Skills Can Increase an Editorial Photographer'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Flexibility 3.09%
Product Development 2.44%
Google Analytics 2.15%
See More Skills

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 an Editorial Photographer'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 $78,502
10%
Content Management $77,789
9%
Content Creation $76,361
7%
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Editorial Photographer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Editorial Photographer 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, Editorial Photographer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Editorial Photographer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Editorial Photographer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$92,775$45.030%
Financial Services$85,639$41.020%
Internet$82,071$39.015%
Biotechnology$78,502$38.010%
Media$78,502$38.010%

Editorial Photographer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Editorial Photographer'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 September 01, 2026
$65,047
Average $71,366/year
$76,856
$5,421
Average $5,947/month
$6,405
$1,251
Average $1,372/week
$1,478
$31
Average $34/hour
$37
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $76,856 $6,405 $1,478 $37
Average $71,366 $5,947 $1,372 $34
25th Percentile $65,047 $5,421 $1,251 $31

Most common benefits for Editorial Photographer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Editorial Photographer

Here are companies hiring for Editorial Photographer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Editorial Photographer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Editorial Photographer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Editorial Photographer roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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