Sector

Photography & Video Production Careers

Photography and video production creates visual content for clients โ€” from commercial photography to video production. Hybrid work possible for editing with low formal credentials.

49K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$49K
Median salary
Across all roles
Photography & Video Production jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Photography & Video Production employment by metro ยท ~209 areas
1.Aguadilla, PR141
2.Akron, OH48
3.Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY21
4.Albuquerque, NM82
5.Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ112

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Photography & Video Production

Photography and video production create visual content โ€” there's satisfaction in capturing images, creative storytelling, and making content that communicates. Many find meaning in visual expression and variety of shoots.

The challenge can come from income variability and competition. Freelance income is uneven; slow periods happen. Equipment costs are significant. Everyone with a smartphone competes on some level. Building a reputation takes years.

The field varies by specialization and model. Commercial photography differs from wedding, editorial, product, or video. Freelance operates differently than staff positions or production companies. Still photography has different workflows than video.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: creative work, variety of shoots and subjects, seeing your images used, and visual careers. If you love creating images, can build a client base, and want creative careers with flexibility, photo and video offers fulfilling opportunities.

How people break in

Portfolio is essential. Technical proficiency with equipment matters. Business skills enable freelance success. Assisting established professionals provides learning.

Work environment tends toward
Portfolio essentialProject-basedEquipment investmentClient developmentFreelance common
Industries it connects to
Salary vs. national average
-30%
$49K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all photography & video production roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$89K
2. Boulder$75K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$71K
4. Durham-Chapel Hill$68K
5. Trenton-Princeton$68K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$67K in mid-market metros to ~$101K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $101K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $85K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $77K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $89K adj.
Boulder ยท $75K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $71K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 18.4M
Los Angeles ยท 12.3M
Chicago ยท 9.1M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Photography & Video Production.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Professional Services data
25%
Higher than average turnover. This could indicate challenging conditions, seasonal work, or abundant external opportunities.
โ†‘ 3%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
99%
Small
<50
1%
Mid
50โ€“249
0%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Hybrid common
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Low
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Professional Services data
~1%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 1%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Building a career in Photography & Video Production? Truest helps you find the right role, understand the landscape, and plan your growth.
Explore career tools

Find where you fit in Photography & Video Production

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that match, and grow with intention.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.