SOC 27-4021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Photographers — Cleveland
Cleveland, OH · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Photographers in Cleveland, OH is $42,090 per year, close to the national median of $44,660 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Photographers in Cleveland, OH is $42,090 per year, close to the national median of $44,660 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $29,230 at the tenth percentile to more than $80,300 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $33,940 to $61,810.
Employment stands at 290, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Cincinnati leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $43,040. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 498th of 616 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,230 | −34.5% |
| 25th | $33,940 | −24.0% |
| Median (50th) | $42,090 | −5.8% |
| 75th | $61,810 | +38.4% |
| 90th | $80,300 | +79.8% |
| Mean | $49,650 | +11.2% |
Other metro areas in Ohio
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cleveland run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $42,090 goes as far as $45,356 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,356US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,090 a year, 5.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,230 to $80,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 290 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cincinnati, at $43,040.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Photographers in Cleveland, OH?
The median annual wage is $42,090, or $20.24 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $44,660, so pay in Cleveland, OH is 5.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Cleveland, OH earns more than $80,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,230 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Cincinnati, at $43,040 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 290 jobs in this occupation in Cleveland, OH. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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