- Salary statistics
- Press photographer salary
Press photographer salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
33 400 - 44 400 SEK / month
Women earn 81% of what men do.
Kultur, media, design
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Salary progression Press photographer
What does a Press Photographer do? – Tasks and Work Environment
A Press Photographer works on documenting news events, reports, and societal phenomena through images. The role involves quickly capturing moments and delivering images to newspapers, news agencies, or digital media. The work environment is often dynamic and can range from stressful emergency calls to longer reports requiring patience and creativity. Irregular working hours and travel are common, especially when covering major events on location.
Salary Development Over Time
The salary for a Press Photographer has shown a steady and stable development over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 36,400 SEK per month, which increased to 37 300 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary was 38 500 SEK, representing a total increase of about 5% over three years. This trend reflects a somewhat increased demand for visual content in digital media and a continued need for experienced photographers in the news industry. Despite the digital transition, the profession has maintained its salary structure, although competition for permanent positions has increased. The salary increase is somewhat lower than in some other media professions, which can be explained by the industry's tight margins and a high proportion of freelance assignments.
Press Photographer Salary – Complete Overview
- Average salary: 38 500 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 36,100 SEK/month (male), 37,100 SEK/month (female)
- Highest salary: 39,600 SEK/month (male), 39,000 SEK/month (female)
- Hourly wage (average): 224 SEK
- Gender differences: Men earn an average of 41 200 SEK, specific figures for women are not available
- Regional differences: Data not available
Education and Qualifications
The path to becoming a Press Photographer can vary, but a combination of formal education and practical experience is often essential. Many choose to study photography or journalism at university or folk high schools, while others build their skills through internships and freelance work. Creativity, technical skill, and the ability to work under pressure are key qualities.
- Education: Photography or journalism, 1–3 years (university/folk high school)
- Courses and certifications: Specialization in image editing and digital publishing
- Internships: Recommended at editorial offices or media houses
- Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of photography and image management
- Self-study: Common via online courses and workshops
Building a strong network among journalists and editors can be crucial for securing assignments as a Press Photographer. Quick deliveries and reliability are highly valued in the industry, where competition for the most interesting jobs is fierce. Many successful photographers started with smaller assignments and built their reputation over time.
Common Benefits and Compensation
Press Photographers are often offered compensation for inconvenient working hours, travel allowances, and sometimes access to equipment such as cameras and computers. Benefits may vary depending on the employer, but health benefits and opportunities for skills development are also common.
Competition and Challenges
The profession as a Press Photographer is characterized by tough competition, especially for permanent positions within larger media companies. Many work as freelancers, which can mean uncertain income and the need for a broad network of contacts. Technological developments have lowered the barriers to working with images but have also increased competition from amateur photographers and automated image solutions. The ability to deliver unique, storytelling images under time pressure is critical for success. The industry's shift toward digital publishing also demands continuous skills development and adaptation to new workflows.
Tips for Aspiring Press Photographers
To succeed as a Press Photographer, it is beneficial to combine technical skills with curiosity and a strong sense of visual storytelling. Flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to different work environments are crucial, as is building a network within the media industry. Patience helps when waiting for the right moment, while initiative and drive facilitate covering unexpected news. Staying updated on technological advances in photography and image editing is also important. Good communication skills make it easier to collaborate with journalists and editors, and handling stressful situations professionally is a significant asset.
Key Facts about Press Photographer
- Education level: Photography/journalism, 1–3 years
- Work type: Freelance or employed at media companies
- Number of job openings: 620 within the profession of photographers
- Work environment: Irregular hours, varied workplaces
Career Paths and Future Outlook
After three to five years in the profession, a Press Photographer can advance to more specialized roles, such as picture editor or project manager for larger reports. Many also choose to broaden their skills toward moving images and multimedia production, which is in demand as digital media grows. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service's forecasts, there is no detailed assessment for the profession, but competition for permanent positions remains. Job opportunities are relatively good within the field, with 620 job openings noted. Flexibility, specialization, and a strong network can increase chances of secure employment or attractive freelance assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Press Photographer
- What is the average salary of a Press Photographer?
- The average salary is 38 500 SEK per month. - What is the highest salary for a Press Photographer?
- The highest salary is 39,600 SEK per month for men and 39,000 SEK for women. - What education is required to become a Press Photographer?
- Typically, education in photography or journalism, 1–3 years. - What are the future prospects for a Press Photographer?
- No forecasts are available, but there are approximately 620 job openings within the profession. - What are the gender differences in salaries for a Press Photographer?
- Men earn an average of 41 200 SEK, specific figures for women are not available. - What is the typical hourly wage for a Press Photographer?
- The hourly wage averages at 224 SEK.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 33300 kr | 33500 kr | |
| 35-44 | 40600 kr | 41400 kr | |
| 45-54 | 43100 kr | 44500 kr | |
| 55-64 | 43700 kr | 45400 kr | |
| Snitt | 81% | 37700 kr | 38500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 37500 kr | 38500 kr | |
| 35-44 | 99% | 38000 kr | 38000 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 39800 kr | 39800 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 39700 kr | 40000 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 39300 kr | 39600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 37500 kr | 38500 kr | |
| 35-44 | 99% | 38000 kr | 38000 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 39800 kr | 39800 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 39700 kr | 40000 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 39300 kr | 39600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 33300 kr | 33500 kr | |
| 35-44 | 40800 kr | 41600 kr | |
| 45-54 | 43300 kr | 44700 kr | |
| 55-64 | 44000 kr | 0 kr | |
| Snitt | 37700 kr | 38500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 33300 kr | 33500 kr | |
| 35-44 | 40800 kr | 41600 kr | |
| 45-54 | 43300 kr | 44700 kr | |
| 55-64 | 44000 kr | 0 kr | |
| Snitt | 37700 kr | 38500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 35300 kr | 35500 kr | |
| 35-44 | 40900 kr | 41800 kr | |
| 45-54 | 43900 kr | 45800 kr | |
| Snitt | 81% | 40100 kr | 41200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 99% | 38000 kr | 38100 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 41400 kr | 41400 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 39500 kr | 40100 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 39500 kr | 39800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 99% | 38000 kr | 38100 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 41400 kr | 41400 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 39500 kr | 40100 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 39500 kr | 39800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 41000 kr | 41900 kr | |
| 45-54 | 43900 kr | 45800 kr | |
| Snitt | 40100 kr | 41300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 41000 kr | 41900 kr | |
| 45-54 | 43900 kr | 45800 kr | |
| Snitt | 40100 kr | 41300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 81% | 33200 kr | 33400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 99% | 37900 kr | 37900 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 39200 kr | 39200 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 39800 kr | 39900 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 39100 kr | 39300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 99% | 37900 kr | 37900 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 39200 kr | 39200 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 39800 kr | 39900 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 39100 kr | 39300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 32900 kr | 0 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 32900 kr | 0 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Press photographer has the SSYK code 3431, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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