Earnings vary widely for photographers. The average annual salary for food photographers was $44,000 in 2019, according to PayScale.com. Ten percent of food photographers earned $35,000 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $51,000 or more.

Median annual earnings for salaried photographers were approximately $34,000 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest paid 10 percent made less than $19,850, while the highest paid 10 percent made more than $76,360 per year.

Freelance photographers have the ability to earn much more than their salaried counterparts because there is no limit to how many clients they may have or how many projects they may be working on at one time. However, commercial and food photography are very competitive fields, so earnings could vary from $0 to $500,000, depending on an individual's business savvy and professional contacts.

Salaried food photographers usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Self-employed photographers must provide their own benefits.

Food Photographers

Overview

Introduction

Quick Facts

Earnings

Work Environment

Outlook

Related Professions

Advertising Account Executives

Advertising Managers

Advertising Workers