A sourced reference page for photographer employment, wages, openings, photographic services, and Ohio wage data. Last updated July 6, 2026.
National data includes commercial, portrait, graduation, studio, press, sports, and other specialties. The local buying decision is still trust, style, availability, and comfort in front of the camera.
The occupation is projected to grow slowly, but replacement demand keeps thousands of openings moving each year.
Wage data gives market context, but families and graduates usually choose the photographer who makes planning feel clear and the session feel relaxed.
Each statistic below has a stable anchor and a named source so writers can quote the exact figure.
O*NET lists 151,200 U.S. photographer employees for 2024, covering roles such as portrait, graduation, commercial, studio, sports, and photojournalism photographers.
Source: O*NET OnLine, updated 20262024 employment, page updated 2026The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET profile projects about 12,700 photographer openings per year from 2024 to 2034, mostly from replacement demand.
Source: O*NET OnLine / Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034 projectionO*NET lists projected U.S. photographer growth from 2024 to 2034 as slower than average, in the 1% to 2% range.
Source: O*NET OnLine / Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034 projectionO*NET's 2025 wage data lists photographers nationally at a median of $21.47 per hour.
Source: O*NET OnLine2025 wage dataThe same O*NET wage table lists the national median photographer wage at $44,660 annually.
Source: O*NET OnLine2025 wage dataO*NET's Ohio wage table lists photographers in the state at a median of $18.50 per hour.
Source: O*NET Ohio wage table2025 wage tableO*NET's Ohio wage table lists photographers in the state at a median of $18.50 per hour, or $38,470 per year.
Source: O*NET Ohio wage table2025 wage tableO*NET lists the Columbus, Ohio metro area's median annual wage for photographers at $41,390.
Source: O*NET Ohio wage table2025 wage tableFor the Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area, O*NET lists the median annual photographer wage at $31,200.
Source: O*NET Ohio wage table2025 wage tableIn O*NET work-context responses, 52% of photographers described the level of competition in the occupation as extremely competitive.
Source: O*NET OnLineO*NET page updated 2026In O*NET's work-context data, 45% of photographers said dealing with external customers or the public is extremely important.
Source: O*NET OnLineO*NET page updated 2026O*NET's work-context data says 48% of photographers reported a typical work week of more than 40 hours.
Source: O*NET OnLineO*NET page updated 2026The data explains the industry, but clients still book people. For senior portraits, graduation photos, family sessions, and outdoor portraits around Athens, the strongest buying signals are clear pricing, flexible location planning, visible work, and a photographer who can guide real people without making the session feel stiff.
Da-Chief Photography serves Athens, Ohio University, Glouster, Nelsonville, Hocking Hills, Burr Oak, and nearby Southeast Ohio locations.
This page uses public labor-market data from O*NET OnLine, which reports wage and projection data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures are quoted with the source year or projection period shown on each stat card.
Used for national wages, 2024 employment, projected openings, projected growth, occupation examples, and work-context data.
Used for Ohio wage context.
Suggested citation: Da-Chief Photography. "Photography Industry Statistics 2026." Updated July 6, 2026. https://dachiefphotography.com/photography-industry-statistics/