Career comparison
Journalist vs. Photographer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Journalists earn more at the median ($62,200 vs. $44,660), while photographers usually get to work faster (6 months–2 years of training). Journalists find, report and tell the stories that keep the public informed. Photographers capture images for clients, events, products and stories.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Journalist | Photographer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,200 ($29.91/hr) | $44,660 ($21.47/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,240 – $144,140 | $30,820 – $91,810 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -5.9% (a projected decline) | -0.7% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 3,400 | 10,700 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4 years | 6 months–2 years |
| Key credential | Journalism degree | Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) |
| Work setting | Journalists work in newsrooms, remotely and in the field, often on deadline.. | Photographers work in studios, on location, at events and at home editing. |
What each job does
Journalist
- Find and pitch stories
- Interview sources
- Research records and data
- Verify facts
- Write and produce stories
Photographer
- Plan shoots with clients
- Set up lighting and equipment
- Direct subjects and compose shots
- Capture images
- Edit and retouch photos
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, creative work, travel, and working independently. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose journalist if…
- I’m curious about everything
- I love writing
- I can handle deadlines
Choose photographer if…
- I love capturing images
- I have an eye for composition
- I enjoy working with people
Still torn? Take the Journalist fit quiz and the Photographer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, journalist or photographer?
Journalists earn more at the median: $62,200 versus $44,660 for photographers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Photographers typically train faster (6 months–2 years) than journalists (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects photographers to grow -0.7% from 2025–35, compared with -5.9% for journalists.