BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Photographers in Kentucky

$49,990 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$24.03 per hour

▼ 9.8% below U.S. average22nd of 49 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$49,990per year
Median$47,170per year
Hourly$24.03per hour
10th – 90th percentile$23,990 – $76,490per year

Photographers Pay Range in Kentucky

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$23,990
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$30,200
  • 50th Percentile — Median$47,170
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$59,600
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$76,490

Half of Photographers in Kentucky earn more than $47,170. The top 10% make $76,490 or more, while entry-level workers start around $23,990.

Photographers in Kentucky: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Kentucky ranks 22nd of 49 states for Photographers pay, at $49,990 per year (9.8% below the U.S. average of $55,410).
  • 380 people work as Photographers in Kentucky — 0.7% of all U.S. Photographers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.57: Photographers jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $23,990; the top 10% earn over $76,490.
  • Hourly equivalent: $24.03 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $104,630.
  • Among creative jobs in Kentucky, Art Directors pays the most ($80,360).

Photographers Job Market in Kentucky

Key factors affecting compensation

Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Photographers here earn $49,990 on average, placing the state 22nd nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $49,990 is roughly equivalent to $60,229 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Utah ($51,290), Delaware ($51,040), Illinois ($50,600) are the closest alternatives for Photographers weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Photographers salary in Kentucky?

The average Photographers salary in Kentucky is $49,990 per year (median $47,170), which is 9.8% below the national average of $55,410.

How does Kentucky rank for Photographers pay?

Kentucky ranks 22nd out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($104,630/yr).

How much do entry-level Photographers make in Kentucky?

The lowest-paid 10% of Photographers in Kentucky earn about $23,990 per year and the 25th percentile is $30,200.

How much do Photographers make per hour in Kentucky?

About $24.03 per hour, based on the $49,990 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Photographers work in Kentucky?

BLS counts 380 Photographers jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).

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