Film and Photography
Visual & Performing Arts · federal classification: Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $31,668 | $25,198 to $34,683 | 14 | 29% |
| Associate's Degree | $32,682 | $29,989 to $39,915 | 16 | 38% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $44,032 | $38,948 to $49,977 | 151 | 84% |
| Master's Degree | $52,120 | $45,984 to $56,266 | 24 | 96% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +2% (2025 to 2035), about 38,800 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | +4% | 12,100 |
| Photographers | $44,660 | -0.7% | 10,700 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,620 | +2.2% | 8,000 |
| Film and Video Editors | $75,420 | +3.7% | 3,100 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $74,990 | +1.3% | 2,500 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,580 | +2.1% | 2,400 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a film and photography program, of 582 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Full Sail University
- New York University
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Miami Dade College
- New York Film Academy
- University of Southern California
- Emerson College
- Chapman University
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.