Changing shape

Photographers

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.

AI Resistance Index 24 of 99

Changing faster than most: more resilient than 24% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by -0.7% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on creative vision and emotional intelligence.

AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.

Median pay (2025): $44,660
Job growth to 2035: -0.7%
Openings a year: 10,700
People doing it (2025): 145,000
Usual route in: High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training

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Where people already use AI for this work

Set up equipment
Determine operational methods or procedures
Process digital or online data

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Operate audiovisual or related equipment
Maintain operational records
Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products

What the work looks like

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.
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as more images are generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools, substituting for some photographers.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Sound engineering techniciansHuman edge, steady, Index 37, -3.1%
Floral designersHuman edge, steady, Index 48, -5.6%
Merchandise displayers and window trimmersHuman edge, steady, Index 72, +2.7%
Makeup artists, theatrical and performanceHuman edge, growing, Index 94, +6.1%

Also known as: Commercial Photographer, Photographer, Photojournalist, Portrait Photographer, Advertising Photographer, Graduation Photographer, Newspaper Photographer, Photo Editor.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.