Photographers Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$31,200
- 25th Percentile — Junior$32,300
- 50th Percentile — Median$36,570
- 75th Percentile — Senior$57,590
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$96,770
Half of Photographers in Illinois earn more than $36,570. The top 10% make $96,770 or more, while entry-level workers start around $31,200.
Photographers in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 20th of 49 states for Photographers pay, at $50,600 per year (8.7% below the U.S. average of $55,410).
- 2,150 people work as Photographers in Illinois — 4.2% of all U.S. Photographers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.06: Photographers jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,200; the top 10% earn over $96,770.
- Hourly equivalent: $24.33 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $104,630.
- Among creative jobs in Illinois, Art Directors pays the most ($114,870).
Photographers Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Photographers here earn $50,600 on average, placing the state 20th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $50,600 is roughly equivalent to $48,190 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Maine ($52,320), Florida ($52,130), Utah ($51,290) are the closest alternatives for Photographers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Creative Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Art Directors $114,870/yr Illinois +127.0% vs this role
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $96,520/yr Illinois +90.8% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $95,920/yr Illinois +89.6% vs this role
- Special Effects Artists and Animators $92,680/yr Illinois +83.2% vs this role
- News Analysts Reporters and Journalists $87,560/yr Illinois +73.0% vs this role
- Public Relations Specialists $86,060/yr Illinois +70.1% vs this role
- Interior Designers $85,520/yr Illinois +69.0% vs this role
- Editors $80,620/yr Illinois +59.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Photographers salary in Illinois?
The average Photographers salary in Illinois is $50,600 per year (median $36,570), which is 8.7% below the national average of $55,410.
How does Illinois rank for Photographers pay?
Illinois ranks 20th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($104,630/yr).
How much do entry-level Photographers make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Photographers in Illinois earn about $31,200 per year and the 25th percentile is $32,300.
How much do Photographers make per hour in Illinois?
About $24.33 per hour, based on the $50,600 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Photographers work in Illinois?
BLS counts 2,150 Photographers jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data