News
PDN releases salary survey results
Results of PDN’s first photo industry salary survey have been published in the magazine’s June issue, as well as online at www.pdnonline.com. A total of 2,114 individuals from nearly every sector of the industry responded to the survey, which PDN conducted online during the month of April. The results are presented in graphical form, showing average and median salaries by occupations and specialties. For certain categories, average income is broken down by factors such as population density, geographic region, gender, and years of experience.Highlights of the survey findings include:
--Self-employed photographers reported 2005 earnings of $95,000 on average, while the median income of respondents was $57,500. Stock photographers, meanwhile, reported earnings of $125,400 on average, with a median income of $87,500. Earnings for advertising, architectural, fashion, editorial and other categories were also reported.
--The disparity between incomes of male and female self-employed photographers was striking: men earned $104,900 on average, with a median income of $67,500, while women reported an average of $27,900 and a median of $32,500. (Male respondents also outnumbered female respondents by a ratio of 3 to 1)
--Photo editors reported 2005 earnings of $63,500 on average, with a median income of $57,500.
--Photo editors reported that their incomes topped out sometime between 13 and 20 years on the job, while reps reported that their incomes peaked, then declined sometime between 13 and 20 years on the job.
--Account executives reported incomes of $68,500 on average, with a median income of $67,500.
--Art directors and designers reported incomes of $93,000 on average, with a median income of $72,500.
--Studio managers’ incomes averaged $40,600, with a median of $36,000.
For complete details, see the June issue of PDN or click here to view it at PDN's site (subscription required).
Posted in: News, Photographers, Stock Photo Companies
Comments(2)
post a comment »Jeff Greenberg, June 17, 2006 [#]
“Stock photographers, meanwhile, reported earnings of $125,400 on average, with a median income of $87,500...”
Highest figures for any work category mentioned—contradicts cries by RM Patriots that RF & microstock are destroying stock photography?
Erik Palmer, June 21, 2006 [#]
I make most of my income as a consequence of RF licensing, so I’m not an RM patriot as such, but the data provided by PDN does not support Jeff’s conclusion. One could only reach that conclusion by looking at data that shows what’s happening over time. If photographers’ incomes are stable or growing relative to inflation over time, then RF is probably not eroding photographers’ incomes. But if incomes are eroding across the board, for example, then the PDN survey might just be telling us that stock shooters are doing a better job of hanging on under grim circumstances than most in our industry.