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Photographers in Minnesota

Considering working as a Photographers in Minnesota? Here’s what the data says. Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject’s appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists. Excludes “Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film” (27-4031).

What do Photographers Make in Minnesota?

For a photographers working in Minnesota, the median annual wage is $54,650 per year (or roughly $26.27/hour).Pay can range from $31,730 at the 10th percentile to $90,500 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$31,730	$15.26
25th percentile	$39,120	$18.81
Median (50th)	$54,650	$26.27
75th percentile	$77,150	$37.09
90th percentile	$90,500	$43.51

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Minnesota nationwide is 0.55, indicating fewer photographers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, photographers earn a median of $75,743 per year ($36.42/hour), lower than the Minnesota median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 84,572 photographers across the United States. In Minnesota alone, around 530 people work in this role. That matches the typical state median of 530.

Top Minnesota Metros for Photographers

The largest metro-area employers of photographers in Minnesota.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	370	$60,270
Rochester, MN	30	$78,870

Top States for Photographers Employment

These states have the highest employment of photographers work.

State	Number Employed
California	7,300
Florida	4,450
Texas	3,780
New York	3,620
Illinois	2,530
Pennsylvania	2,000
Ohio	1,970
Georgia	1,950
North Carolina	1,620
Virginia	1,360
New Jersey	1,280
Washington	1,260
Massachusetts	1,170
Tennessee	1,090
Arizona	1,090
Wisconsin	1,040
Michigan	1,000
Colorado	1,000
Indiana	870
Maryland	870

Highest-Paying States for Photographers

The highest-paying states for photographers.

State	Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia	$110,530
Massachusetts	$60,610
New York	$57,700
Oregon	$55,640
Minnesota	$54,650
New Jersey	$50,760
California	$50,610
Delaware	$50,040
Rhode Island	$49,770
Louisiana	$49,740

Skills

Top photographers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for photographers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Photographers typically:

• Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
• Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
• Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
• Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
• Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
• Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
• Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
• Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques.
• Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.
• Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas.
• Perform general office duties, such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies.
• Review sets of photographs to select the best work.

Work Activities

• Working with Computers
• Thinking Creatively
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Selling or Influencing Others
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Scheduling Work and Activities
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Performing Administrative Activities
• Getting Information

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects In-demand technologies: Adobe Photoshop

Related Careers

Related occupations to photographers include:

• Art Directors
• Craft Artists
• Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
• Special Effects Artists and Animators
• Floral Designers
• Graphic Designers

Also Known As

Advertising Photographer, Aerial Photographer, Automotive Photographer, Biological Photographer, Biomedical Photographer, Commercial Photographer, Crime Scene Photographer, Digital Photographer, Event Photographer, Fashion Photographer, Finish Photographer, Food Photographer, Forensic Photographer, Freelance Photographer, Graduation Photographer.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 27-4021.00