At a glance
These figures bring together the latest available public data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Camera & Imaging Products Association, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Each number links directly to its published source and keeps the source year visible.
The page is designed as a reference, not a forecast of any individual photographer’s business. Employment figures describe an occupation, shipment figures describe CIPA member-company shipments, and arts participation describes a survey of US adults.
145,000
photographers were employed in the US in 2025.
This is the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment estimate for the occupation, covering photographers across the US economy.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Photographers, 2025 ↗$44,660
was the median annual pay for US photographers in May 2025.
The median means half of photographers earned more and half earned less. The equivalent median hourly wage was $21.47.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Photographers, May 2025 ↗10,700
photographer openings are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035.
The projection is largely replacement demand, as workers change occupations or leave the workforce.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Photographers, 2025–35 projection ↗−1%
is the projected change in US photographer employment from 2025 to 2035.
The BLS projection is for a small overall decline, while still expecting annual openings across the decade.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Photographers, 2025–35 projection ↗9.44m
digital cameras were shipped globally in 2025 by CIPA member companies.
This total includes both built-in-lens and interchangeable-lens digital cameras, reported in CIPA’s 2025 shipment results.
CIPA, 2025 camera shipment results, published February 2026 ↗7.00m
interchangeable-lens cameras were shipped globally in 2025 by CIPA member companies.
Interchangeable-lens models accounted for roughly three quarters of the digital-camera total in the same report.
CIPA, 2025 camera shipment results, published February 2026 ↗10.60m
interchangeable lenses were shipped globally in 2025 by CIPA member companies.
That was 102.8% of the prior year’s volume, according to the association’s annual shipment report.
CIPA, 2025 lens shipment results, published February 2026 ↗13.3%
of US adults reported taking photographs as an artistic activity in 2022.
The National Endowment for the Arts reported this in its Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, up from 10.4% in the 2020 Arts Basic Survey.
National Endowment for the Arts, Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, 2022 ↗Quote the number, then keep the source close.
For a clear citation, link to the individual statistic on this page and name the original publisher and year. The original source remains the authority for definitions, methodology, and later revisions.
Suggested citation: “Coulton Barnett Photography, ‘Photography Statistics: Jobs, Cameras & Participation,’ updated October 21, 2026, citing the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIPA, and the National Endowment for the Arts.”
See sources and method ↓Sources and method
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Photographers. Employment, pay, and 2025–35 outlook figures. The occupation profile is updated as BLS releases new information. Read the BLS profile ↗
Camera & Imaging Products Association, 2025 shipment results. Global shipments reported by CIPA member companies, published February 26, 2026. Read the CIPA release ↗
National Endowment for the Arts, 2022 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts. Adult participation in artistic photography, published from the 2022 survey. Read the NEA report ↗
Last updated October 21, 2026. Figures are transcribed from the sources above. This page will be reviewed monthly, or sooner when a key source releases updated data.
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