Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Photographers vs. Public Relations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Public Relations Specialistss out-earn Photographerss by $30K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Photographerss land at $44,660 and Public Relations Specialistss at $74,750. The education gap is real: photographer programs typically require bachelor's degree, while public relations specialist programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Photographerss is District of Columbia ($110,970); for Public Relations Specialistss it's District of Columbia ($102,740).

Photographers
Public Relations Specialists
Median salary
$44,660
$74,750
Hourly rate
$21.47/hr
$35.94/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$30,820
$44,110
Senior level (90th %)
$91,810
$135,150
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
51,760
283,380
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Arts & Media
Arts & Media
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Photographers median pay.

State
Photographers
Public Relations Specialists
District of Columbia
$110,970
$102,740
New York
$60,050
$81,250
Massachusetts
$57,990
$79,660
Oregon
$53,630
$74,900
Delaware
$50,100
$76,120
Connecticut
$49,790
$84,990
Washington
$48,050
$87,470
California
$47,840
$85,030
Colorado
$47,070
$80,680
Virginia
$46,550
$80,380
Maryland
$46,450
$79,560
New Jersey
$40,520
$80,130
Nevada
$37,460
$73,840
Rhode Island
$37,300
$77,540
Illinois
$36,570
$76,380

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Photographerss or Public Relations Specialistss?

Public Relations Specialistss earn more nationally. The median is $44,660 for Photographerss versus $74,750 for Public Relations Specialistss, a difference of $30K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Photographers or Public Relations Specialists?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Photographers or Public Relations Specialists?

Photographers typically requires bachelor's degree. Public Relations Specialists requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Photographerss get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Photographerss at $110,970/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Photographers vs. Public Relations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Photographerss earn $110,970 vs. $102,740 for Public Relations Specialistss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Photographers salary breakdownView →Full Public Relations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Photographerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Public Relations Specialistss by take-home payExplore →How to become a photographersGuide →How to become a public relations specialistsGuide →