Photographers salary
in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Middle 50%
- $42,760–$80,950
- vs U.S. median
- +17%
- Metro rank
- #7 of 45
Photographers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro earn a median of $52,470 a year, based on BLS estimates for 210 jobs (May 2025). That is 17% above the U.S. median of $44,660 and 10% above the CA statewide median of $47,840. It ranks #7 of 45 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE210 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
Were you outpaid?
Your salary is ranked in your browser and never uploaded.
Photographers pay in other CA metros
5 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,840 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,840 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,880 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $44,030 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,710 |
Turn your result into a raise plan.
Run the free check first for Photographers. If you want to act on it, the Dossier turns your result into a target number (the 75th percentile for your job and metro), the employers that report paying more (where filing data exists), a raise or counter-offer script filled in with your numbers, and a one-page summary for your manager.
- ✓ Built from BLS and DOL data
- ✓ PDF generated in your browser
- ✓ 7-day money-back guarantee
RELATED JOBS IN SAN JOSE
Questions
What is the average Photographers salary in San Jose?
The BLS median is $52,470 a year (May 2025). Half of the 210 jobs pay between $42,760 and $80,950. The 10th percentile is $40,610 and the 90th is $127,560.
Is San Jose a high-paying metro for Photographers?
That is 17% above the U.S. median of $44,660 and 10% above the CA statewide median of $47,840. It ranks #7 of 45 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Photographers make an hour in San Jose?
About $25.23 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $52,470 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $20.56–$38.92 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.