BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Photographers in Wisconsin

$49,640 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$23.87 per hour

▼ 10.4% below U.S. average24th of 49 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$49,640per year
Median$42,060per year
Hourly$23.87per hour
10th – 90th percentile$31,540 – $80,550per year

Photographers Pay Range in Wisconsin

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$31,540
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$37,110
  • 50th Percentile — Median$42,060
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$56,940
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$80,550

Half of Photographers in Wisconsin earn more than $42,060. The top 10% make $80,550 or more, while entry-level workers start around $31,540.

Photographers in Wisconsin: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Wisconsin ranks 24th of 49 states for Photographers pay, at $49,640 per year (10.4% below the U.S. average of $55,410).
  • 850 people work as Photographers in Wisconsin — 1.6% of all U.S. Photographers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.87: Photographers jobs are less concentrated in Wisconsin than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,540; the top 10% earn over $80,550.
  • Hourly equivalent: $23.87 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $104,630.
  • Among creative jobs in Wisconsin, Art Directors pays the most ($95,070).

Photographers Job Market in Wisconsin

Key factors affecting compensation

Wisconsin's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Photographers here earn $49,640 on average, placing the state 24th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.92 (U.S. = 1.00), a Wisconsin salary of $49,640 is roughly equivalent to $53,957 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Illinois ($50,600), Alaska ($50,090), Kentucky ($49,990) 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 Wisconsin?

The average Photographers salary in Wisconsin is $49,640 per year (median $42,060), which is 10.4% below the national average of $55,410.

How does Wisconsin rank for Photographers pay?

Wisconsin ranks 24th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($104,630/yr).

How much do entry-level Photographers make in Wisconsin?

The lowest-paid 10% of Photographers in Wisconsin earn about $31,540 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,110.

How much do Photographers make per hour in Wisconsin?

About $23.87 per hour, based on the $49,640 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Photographers work in Wisconsin?

BLS counts 850 Photographers jobs in Wisconsin (OEWS May 2025).

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