Well, let me tell ya, figurin’ out how much them NFL photographers make ain’t easy as pie. It’s like tryin’ to count all the chickens in a coop when they’re all runnin’ around! But from what I hear, it ain’t too shabby, but it ain’t gonna make ya a Rockefeller neither.

Some folks say these fellas snapping pictures of them football players make around $42,000 a year, give or take. That’s as of, what, 2024? Now, that’s an average, mind you. Some might make more, some might make less. It’s like farmin’, some years the crops are good, some years they ain’t.
I heard tell that if you’re lucky enough to be snappin’ pictures out in California, you might see a bit more, maybe up to $53,000 a year. Land’s expensive out there, so I guess they gotta pay ya more to keep up. That works out to be somethin’ like 20 or 25 dollars an hour, which ain’t bad if you can get it.
- Now, another place I heard about, they say the average fella makin’ pictures for the NFL gets around $64,000 a year.
- That sounds like a pretty penny, but remember, that’s just an average. Some folks might be makin’ more, especially if they been doin’ it a long time and got a good name for themselves.
- And then there’s them bonuses and such, like if you get a really good shot that ends up on the cover of a magazine or somethin’. That could bring in some extra cash.
But then you hear other stories, like some fellas only makin’ around $21,000 a year, or maybe $10 an hour. That don’t sound like much, does it? Makes you wonder if they’re just startin’ out or if it’s just a side gig for them. It’s hard to say for sure, everyone’s got their own story to tell.
And it ain’t just about the money, you know. These photographers, they gotta work hard. They’re out there in all kinds of weather, rain or shine, hot or cold. They gotta be quick on their feet to get them good shots, and they gotta have a good eye for what looks good.
Plus, they gotta have all that fancy equipment, them cameras and lenses and such. That stuff ain’t cheap, let me tell ya. And they gotta know how to use it all, too. It ain’t like takin’ a picture with your phone, that’s for sure.
I also heard some of them get benefits, like health insurance and money set aside for when they get old and can’t work no more. That’s important, you know, gotta take care of yourself and your family.
Then there’s this talk about a total pay range, sayin’ it could be anywhere from $48,000 to $86,000 a year. That’s a big difference, ain’t it? Makes you scratch your head and wonder what makes one fella worth so much more than another. Maybe it’s experience, maybe it’s who you know, maybe it’s just plain luck. Who knows?
It seems like most places say the hourly pay is around $22. That’s a decent wage, I reckon, but it ain’t gonna make you rich overnight. And remember, that’s just an average. Some folks make more, some folks make less.
So, if you’re thinkin’ about becomin’ an NFL photographer, don’t just think about the money. Think about the hard work, the long hours, and the need for fancy equipment. And remember, just like plantin’ seeds, it takes time and effort to grow a successful career.
But hey, if you love football and you love takin’ pictures, it might just be the perfect job for you. Just don’t expect to be rollin’ in dough right away. It takes time and hard work to make a good livin’ at anythin’, that’s what I always say.

Now, if you want to get yourself out there, I hear tell you gotta have a good website. It’s like havin’ a good storefront in town, gotta show people what you got. There’s these places like Wix, they can help you set up a website, even if you ain’t too tech-savvy. It’s important to learn about SEO, too. That’s how them computers find your website when folks search for stuff online. It’s like puttin’ up a sign on the road, gotta let folks know you’re there and what you do.
Tags:NFL, Photographer, Salary, Football, Sports Photography, Career, Earnings, Pay