Occupations/27-4021.00
Photographers
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.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
30%
More resilient
Human characteristics
65%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
43%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Task
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.
- Task
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
- Task
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
These are core tasks from O*NET. The wording didn’t clearly split routine from human, so they are listed without that label.
Core tasks
- 01Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
- 02Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
- 03Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
- 04Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
- 05Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
- 06Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.05
- Degree of automation1.86
- Time sitting3.29
- Originality (ability)3.88
- Conflict situations2.50
- Hands-on objects/tools3.91
- Outdoors / weather3.27
- Disease exposure1.32
- Decision freedom4.14
Top abilities
- Near Vision4.00
- Visualization3.88
- Originality3.88
- Oral Expression3.88
- Far Vision3.88
- Visual Color Discrimination3.62
- Oral Comprehension3.62
- Problem Sensitivity3.38
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.12
- Active Listening3.75
- Writing2.88
- Speaking3.75
- Mathematics2.00
- Science1.75
- Critical Thinking3.12
- Active Learning3.12
- Learning Strategies2.88
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 82 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York University New York, NY · Private nonprofit | Photojournalism 09.0404 | $60,400 | 12% | 88% | 1 yr $56,641 2 yr — Graduate certificate · CIP 09.04 |
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | Photojournalism 09.0404 | $13,800 | 9% | 92% | 1 yr $49,019 2 yr $49,136 Master's · CIP 09.04 |
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA · Public | Commercial Photography 50.0406 | $11,800 | 17% | 91% | 1 yr $48,823 2 yr $49,527 Bachelor's · CIP 50.04 |
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Private nonprofit | Photojournalism 09.0404 | $68,200 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $46,833 2 yr $49,931 Master's · CIP 09.04 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Photojournalism 09.0404 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr $46,087 2 yr $42,682 Bachelor's · CIP 09.04 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL · Public | Photojournalism 09.0404 | $4,600 | 100% | 27% | 1 yr $45,539 2 yr $43,100 Bachelor's · CIP 09.04 |
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL · Public | Commercial Photography 50.0406 | $6,500 | 25% | 84% | 1 yr $45,383 2 yr $45,435 Bachelor's · CIP 50.04 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public | Photojournalism 09.0404 | $11,200 | 49% | 89% | 1 yr $43,851 2 yr $39,585 Bachelor's · CIP 09.04 |
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC · Public | Commercial Photography 50.0406 | $9,200 | 47% | 84% | 1 yr $43,798 2 yr $36,401 Bachelor's · CIP 50.04 |
Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC · Public | Commercial Photography 50.0406 | $2,900 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr $43,798 2 yr $41,193 Bachelor's · CIP 50.04 |
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA · Public | Commercial Photography 50.0406 | $15,200 | 24% | 87% | 1 yr $43,240 2 yr $40,017 Bachelor's · CIP 50.04 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Commercial Photography 50.0406 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $42,682 2 yr $38,289 Bachelor's · CIP 50.04 |