BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Photographers in Missouri

$47,380 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$22.78 per hour

▼ 14.5% below U.S. average29th of 49 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$47,380per year
Median$39,170per year
Hourly$22.78per hour
10th – 90th percentile$29,600 – $74,530per year

Photographers Pay Range in Missouri

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$29,600
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$31,880
  • 50th Percentile — Median$39,170
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$58,250
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$74,530

Half of Photographers in Missouri earn more than $39,170. The top 10% make $74,530 or more, while entry-level workers start around $29,600.

Photographers in Missouri: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Missouri ranks 29th of 49 states for Photographers pay, at $47,380 per year (14.5% below the U.S. average of $55,410).
  • 950 people work as Photographers in Missouri — 1.8% of all U.S. Photographers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.97: Photographers jobs are less concentrated in Missouri than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,600; the top 10% earn over $74,530.
  • Hourly equivalent: $22.78 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $104,630.
  • Among creative jobs in Missouri, Art Directors pays the most ($108,630).

Photographers Job Market in Missouri

Key factors affecting compensation

Missouri's key industries are Healthcare, Finance, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Photographers here earn $47,380 on average, placing the state 29th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a Missouri salary of $47,380 is roughly equivalent to $54,460 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Rhode Island ($49,440), Pennsylvania ($49,190), Montana ($49,120) 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 Missouri?

The average Photographers salary in Missouri is $47,380 per year (median $39,170), which is 14.5% below the national average of $55,410.

How does Missouri rank for Photographers pay?

Missouri ranks 29th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($104,630/yr).

How much do entry-level Photographers make in Missouri?

The lowest-paid 10% of Photographers in Missouri earn about $29,600 per year and the 25th percentile is $31,880.

How much do Photographers make per hour in Missouri?

About $22.78 per hour, based on the $47,380 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Photographers work in Missouri?

BLS counts 950 Photographers jobs in Missouri (OEWS May 2025).

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