Becoming a Photojournalist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering journalism courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
journalists,
media journalists,
investigative journalists,
broadcast journalists,
photojournalists,
newspaper photojournalists, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 57,760 people employed as
photographers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$36,370.
Camera operators, television, video, and motion picture make on average $49,590
per year and there are about 17,540
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Photojournalist
- Magazine Companies
- Photography magazines
- Modeling Agencies
- Photo Journalism Magazines
- Radio Stations
- Journalism Firms
- Marketing Firms
- Photo Journalism Companies
- Fashion Agencies
- Movie Sets
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Photojournalist
- Demanding hours and schedules
- Constantly being exposed to the public
- Minimum Educational qualification
- Connection are easily attainable
- Ability to combine different communication mediums
- Opportunity to travel
- The ability to pursue a passion
- Prospect of obtaining business contacts
- Ability to use up-to-date software
- Variety in subject matter
Potential Drawbacks
- Travelling often
- Occasionally being exposed to dangerous environments
- Working in uncomfortable environments during shoots
- The ability to work flexible hours
- Carrying and transporting heavy equipment
- Work and everyday life are often combined
- Inability to work in one's own space
- Starting from the bottom
- Working in large groups at times
- Clients may be hard to satisfy at times
Related Professions to Consider
- Film & Video Editor
- Photographer
- Reporter
- Correspondent
- Broadcast News Analyst
- Desktop Publisher
- Freelance Writer
- Set and Exhibit Designer
- Press Photographer or Photojournalist
- Editor
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Photojournalist
- How will you handle weakneses?
- Describe what success looks like to you?
- What are the factors that would motivate you to join an organization?
- What challenges to look forward in a job position?
- Why do you deserve this job?
- What are your most remarkable skills?
- What is a weakness?
- How many years of experience do you have in this job field?
- How do you establish a working relationship with new people?
- What challenges do you face on a regular basis?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Set and Exhibit Designers
- Sound Engineer Technicians
- Lighting Assistants
- Photographers
- Camera Operators
- Films and Video Editors
- Photographic Process Workers
- Reporters and Correspondents
- Editors
- Broadcast News Analysts
Photojournalist Training books
Photojournalist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Computer Applications
- English
- Government
- Journalism
- Photography
- Website Design
- Design and Visual Communications
- Mass Communications Law
- Media and Society
- News Writing
Photojournalist Salary Information
Category: Photographers
| Total # Employed in the US |
57,760 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$17.48/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $8.23 |
$10.17 |
$14.31 |
$21.26 |
$29.97 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$36,370 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17,120 |
$21,150 |
$29,770 |
$44,230 |
$62,340 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.7% |
13.8% |
25.1% |
11.4% |
39.5% |
6.6% |
0.9% |
|
Photographers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$26.84/hr
|
$55,820
|
| Oklahoma |
$23.35/hr
|
$48,580
|
| Kansas |
$22.81/hr
|
$47,440
|
| Colorado |
$21.36/hr
|
$44,440
|
| Nebraska |
$21.35/hr
|
$44,400
|
| Arkansas |
$20.87/hr
|
$43,410
|
| North Carolina |
$20.59/hr
|
$42,840
|
| Tennessee |
$20.43/hr
|
$42,490
|
| Virginia |
$20.11/hr
|
$41,830
|
| Montana |
$19.98/hr
|
$41,550
|
| Puerto Rico |
$19.64/hr
|
$40,840
|
| Connecticut |
$18.84/hr
|
$39,190
|
| New York |
$18.38/hr
|
$38,240
|
| Alaska |
$18.16/hr
|
$37,760
|
| North Dakota |
$18.12/hr
|
$37,690
|
| Missouri |
$17.25/hr
|
$35,880
|
| Utah |
$16.43/hr
|
$34,170
|
| New Jersey |
$16.28/hr
|
$33,850
|
| District of Columbia |
$16.16/hr
|
$33,610
|
| Wyoming |
$16.06/hr
|
$33,390
|
| New Hampshire |
$16.04/hr
|
$33,370
|
| Oregon |
$15.45/hr
|
$32,130
|
| Hawaii |
$15.32/hr
|
$31,860
|
| Guam |
$15.16/hr
|
$31,530
|
| New Mexico |
$14.97/hr
|
$31,140
|
| South Carolina |
$14.55/hr
|
$30,270
|
| Michigan |
$14.54/hr
|
$30,240
|
| Ohio |
$14.54/hr
|
$30,240
|
| Mississippi |
$14.47/hr
|
$30,100
|
| Maryland |
$14.39/hr
|
$29,940
|
| Pennsylvania |
$14.1/hr
|
$29,320
|
| Nevada |
$14.1/hr
|
$29,330
|
| Washington |
$14.03/hr
|
$29,180
|
| Indiana |
$13.93/hr
|
$28,980
|
| Idaho |
$13.93/hr
|
$28,980
|
| Kentucky |
$13.87/hr
|
$28,860
|
| South Dakota |
$13.52/hr
|
$28,120
|
| California |
$13.45/hr
|
$27,970
|
| Massachusetts |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,380
|
| Louisiana |
$12.96/hr
|
$26,960
|
| Wisconsin |
$12.89/hr
|
$26,820
|
| West Virginia |
$12.63/hr
|
$26,260
|
| Maine |
$12.47/hr
|
$25,930
|
| Iowa |
$12.45/hr
|
$25,890
|
| Alabama |
$12.31/hr
|
$25,600
|
Category: Camera operators, television, video, and motion picture
| Total # Employed in the US |
17,540 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$23.84/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.05 |
$13.89 |
$20.64 |
$29.47 |
$39.71 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$49,590 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20,910 |
$28,890 |
$42,940 |
$61,300 |
$82,600 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.9% |
9.3% |
24.5% |
7.7% |
48.7% |
6.4% |
0.5% |
|
Camera operators, television, video, and motion picture — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Tennessee |
$35.52/hr
|
$73,890
|
| Ohio |
$31.49/hr
|
$65,510
|
| Florida |
$30.34/hr
|
$63,100
|
| Colorado |
$30.27/hr
|
$62,960
|
| Arkansas |
$26.5/hr
|
$55,110
|
| Kentucky |
$26.16/hr
|
$54,420
|
| Mississippi |
$26.14/hr
|
$54,370
|
| North Dakota |
$25.81/hr
|
$53,690
|
| Guam |
$24.74/hr
|
$51,450
|
| Montana |
$24.64/hr
|
$51,240
|
| Connecticut |
$23.45/hr
|
$48,780
|
| Idaho |
$22.76/hr
|
$47,340
|
| South Carolina |
$22.46/hr
|
$46,710
|
| Maine |
$22.27/hr
|
$46,330
|
| Indiana |
$22.2/hr
|
$46,170
|
| Nebraska |
$22.09/hr
|
$45,950
|
| New York |
$21.79/hr
|
$45,310
|
| Oklahoma |
$21.56/hr
|
$44,840
|
| District of Columbia |
$21.11/hr
|
$43,900
|
| Maryland |
$20.67/hr
|
$42,980
|
| Washington |
$20.15/hr
|
$41,920
|
| Virginia |
$19.92/hr
|
$41,430
|
| Alabama |
$19.49/hr
|
$40,530
|
| New Hampshire |
$19.48/hr
|
$40,520
|
| Utah |
$19.29/hr
|
$40,120
|
| Wisconsin |
$18.91/hr
|
$39,340
|
| Kansas |
$18.84/hr
|
$39,180
|
| New Mexico |
$18.4/hr
|
$38,270
|
| Oregon |
$17.33/hr
|
$36,050
|
| Hawaii |
$16.85/hr
|
$35,060
|
| Wyoming |
$16.76/hr
|
$34,860
|
| Louisiana |
$16.75/hr
|
$34,850
|
| Puerto Rico |
$16.44/hr
|
$34,190
|
| Nevada |
$15.59/hr
|
$32,430
|
| South Dakota |
$14.79/hr
|
$30,760
|
| Michigan |
$14.34/hr
|
$29,840
|
| Massachusetts |
$14.27/hr
|
$29,670
|
| West Virginia |
$12.94/hr
|
$26,910
|
| Pennsylvania |
$11.67/hr
|
$24,270
|
