SOC 27-4021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Photographers — San Francisco
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $58,840 a year, the median wage for Photographers in San Francisco, CA sits 31.8% above the national figure of $44,660.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $58,840 a year, the median wage for Photographers in San Francisco, CA sits 31.8% above the national figure of $44,660. Half of workers earn between $46,800 and $81,270. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $41,250 and the ninetieth at $119,280.
The area has 880 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.12 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Bakersfield leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $56,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 510th of 688 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,250 | −7.6% |
| 25th | $46,800 | +4.8% |
| Median (50th) | $58,840 | +31.8% |
| 75th | $81,270 | +82.0% |
| 90th | $119,280 | +167.1% |
| Mean | $83,790 | +87.6% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield | $56,220 | 60 | |
| 2 | Santa Maria | $55,220 | 60 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $52,470 | 210 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $50,500 | 60 | |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo | $48,790 | 40 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $47,840 | 4,290 | |
| 7 | Stockton | $46,620 | 40 | |
| 8 | Sacramento | $45,880 | 290 | |
| 9 | Modesto | $44,240 | 50 | |
| 10 | San Diego | $44,030 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Francisco run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $58,840 buys what $53,153 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 19.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$58,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,153US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,840 a year, 31.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $41,250 to $119,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 880 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bakersfield, at $56,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Photographers in San Francisco, CA?
The median annual wage is $58,840, or $28.29 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 San Francisco, CA is 31.8% higher. 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 San Francisco, CA earns more than $119,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $41,250 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 Bakersfield, at $56,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 880 jobs in this occupation in San Francisco, 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.
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