Photographers

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
O*NET-SOC code
27-4021.00

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.

  • Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08

    High· relative

    LowFour relative bandsVery high

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)

    831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band

    Source dataset (XLSX download)

  • Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03

    0.195

    0.000Range of values carried here0.745
    Scale, basis and source

    Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Mapped onto O*NET tasks

    Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value

    Source dataset (CSV download)

  • Data source: ILOPublished: 2025

    0.39

    0.09Range of values carried here0.70

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published

    Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only

29 rated tasks · 22 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (75.9%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

  • Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
  • 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
Source
OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release
gh-main-0471612
License
MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Task (O*NET 20.1)Claude.aiRaw / share %
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.

27-4021.00

0.080179.0
Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.

27-4021.00

0.015515.3
Review sets of photographs to select the best work.

27-4021.00

0.00575.7
Not observed on any surface — 26 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states.
Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
—0
Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus based on a combination of factors such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
—0
Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
—0
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
—0
Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.
—0
Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas.
—0
Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.
—0
Perform general office duties such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies.
—0
Determine project goals, locations, and equipment needs by studying assignments and consulting with clients or advertising staff.
—0
Select and assemble equipment and required background properties, according to subjects, materials, and conditions.
—0
Set up, mount, or install photographic equipment and cameras.
—0
Produce computer-readable, digital images from film, using flatbed scanners and photofinishing laboratories.
—0
Direct activities of workers who are setting up photographic equipment.
—0
Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
—0
Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques.
—0
Employ a variety of specialized photographic materials and techniques, including infrared and ultraviolet films, macro photography, photogrammetry and sensitometry.
—0
Engage in research to develop new photographic procedures and materials.
—0
Set up photographic exhibitions for the purpose of displaying and selling work.
—0
Load and unload film.
—0
Develop visual aids and charts for use in lectures or to present evidence in court.
—0
License the use of photographs through stock photo agencies.
—0
Mount, frame, laminate, or lacquer finished photographs.
—0
Photograph legal evidence at crime scenes, in hospitals, or in forensic laboratories.
—0
Develop and print exposed film, using chemicals, touchup tools, and developing and printing equipment.
—0
Write photograph captions.
—0
Send film to photofinishing laboratories for processing.
—0

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (28)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)Type
Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.Core
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.Core
Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.Core
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.Core
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.Core
Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.Core
Review sets of photographs to select the best work.Core
Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas.Core
Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.Core
Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.Core
Perform general office duties, such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies.Core
Determine project goals, locations, and equipment needs by studying assignments and consulting with clients or advertising staff.Core
Select and assemble equipment and required background properties, according to subjects, materials, and conditions.Core
Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques.Core
Set up, mount, or install photographic equipment and cameras.Core
Direct activities of workers setting up photographic equipment.Core
Engage in research to develop new photographic procedures and materials.Core
Mount, frame, laminate, or lacquer finished photographs.Core
Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.Core
Produce computer-readable, digital images from film, using flatbed scanners and photofinishing laboratories.Supplemental
Employ a variety of specialized photographic materials and techniques, including infrared and ultraviolet films, macro photography, photogrammetry and sensitometry.Supplemental
Set up photographic exhibitions for the purpose of displaying and selling work.Supplemental
Load and unload film.Supplemental
Develop visual aids and charts for use in lectures or to present evidence in court.Supplemental
License the use of photographs through stock photo agencies.Supplemental
Develop and print exposed film, using chemicals, touch-up tools, and developing and printing equipment.Supplemental
Write photograph captions.Supplemental
Send film to photofinishing laboratories for processing.Supplemental

Occupation information

Employment outlook (BLS)

Employment, 2025
145K
Projected employment, 2035
144K
Change (2025–35)
-0.7%
Median annual wage, 2025
$44,660
Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO codeKSCO titleRelationStatus
29421사진작가This occupation is broaderconfirmed
29422사진기자This occupation is broaderconfirmed
29423사진가This occupation is broaderconfirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

  • ISCO-08 3431Photographers

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

Photographers operate still cameras to photograph people, events, scenes, materials, products and other subjects.

Tasks

  • (a) taking photographs for advertising, or other commercial, industrial or scientific purposes and to illustrate stories and articles in newspapers, magazines and other publications;
  • (b) taking portrait photographs of persons and groups of persons;
  • (c) studying requirements of a particular assignment and decide on type of camera, film, lighting and background accessories to be used;
  • (d) determining picture composition, making technical adjustments to equipment and photograph subject;
  • (e) operating scanners to transfer photographic images to computers;
  • (f) operating computers to manipulate photographic images;
  • (g) adapting existing photographic images to create new digitized images to be included in multimedia products;
  • (h) using airbrush, computer or other techniques to create the desired visual effect.

Example occupations

Aerial photographer · Commercial photographer · Industrial photographer · Photographer · Photo journalist · Portrait photographer · Scientific photographer

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

  • photographerESCO 3431.1Same scope

    Photographers take pictures using digital or film cameras and equipment. Photographers may develop negatives or use computer software in order to produce finished images and prints.

  • video artistESCO 2651.12This occupation is narrower

    Video artists create videos using analogue or digital techniques to obtain special effects, animation, or other animated visuals using films, videos, images, computer or other electronic tools.

  • photojournalistESCO 3431.2This occupation is broader

    Photojournalists cover all kinds of news events by taken informative images. They tell stories by taking, editing and presenting images for newspapers, journals, magazines, television and other media.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME codeROME title (French)Relation
E1201Photographe professionnel / Photographe professionnelleSame scopeprovisional
E1208Chef / Cheffe de studio de photographieThis occupation is broaderprovisional
E1114Reporter / ReportriceRelated, not a matchprovisional

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 codeCNO-11 title (Spanish)Relation
3731FotógrafosSame scopeprovisional

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB codeKldB title (German)Relation
23322Berufe in der Fotografie - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenSame scopeprovisional
23323Berufe in der Fotografie - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
23393Aufsichtskräfte - Fototechnik und FotografieThis occupation is broaderprovisional

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO codeJSCO title (Japanese)Relation
225写真家，映像撮影者This occupation is narrowerprovisional

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources