SOC 27-4021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Photographers — Modesto
Modesto, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $44,240, median pay for Photographers in Modesto, CA tracks the national median of $44,660 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $44,240, median pay for Photographers in Modesto, CA tracks the national median of $44,660 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $38,710 and $52,960. The lowest tenth earn under $35,860, while the highest tenth earn more than $62,980.
Employment stands at 50, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $58,840. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 329th of 398 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,860 | −19.7% |
| 25th | $38,710 | −13.3% |
| Median (50th) | $44,240 | −0.9% |
| 75th | $52,960 | +18.6% |
| 90th | $62,980 | +41.0% |
| Mean | $52,140 | +16.7% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $58,840 | 880 | |
| 2 | Bakersfield | $56,220 | 60 | |
| 3 | Santa Maria | $55,220 | 60 | |
| 4 | San Jose | $52,470 | 210 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $50,500 | 60 | |
| 6 | San Luis Obispo | $48,790 | 40 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $47,840 | 4,290 | |
| 8 | Stockton | $46,620 | 40 | |
| 9 | Sacramento | $45,880 | 290 | |
| 10 | San Diego | $44,030 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Modesto run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $44,240 buys what $39,964 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,240as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,964US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,240 a year, 0.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,860 to $62,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $58,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Photographers in Modesto, CA?
The median annual wage is $44,240, or $21.27 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 Modesto, CA is 0.9% 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 Modesto, CA earns more than $62,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,860 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 San Francisco, at $58,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Modesto, CA. 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.
Explore related data