Also called: Director of Photography (publication), Photo Editor-in-Chief
Leads the visual side of a magazine, news outlet, or brand, hiring photographers and choosing images.
They assign shoots, negotiate budgets, review thousands of images, and pick the cover shot. They manage photo editors and work with art directors. News photo directors make fast decisions on breaking stories.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 10 years after high school. Bachelor's in photojournalism, photography, or journalism plus years as a photo editor.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Photojournalism, Photography, Journalism.
Growing slowly. Fewer publications, but brands increasingly hire visual leaders.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI sorting, search and generated images trim photo staffs; editorial judgment, hiring shooters and visual ethics stay human.
Classes: Journalism or yearbook, Photography, AP English Language.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.