06 Jan 2010

Photojournalist: one of the worst jobs in 2009

Author:

Olivier Laurent

The Wall Street Journal has published its list of the 200 best and worst jobs in 2009. At the top of the list is Actuary with a top-level salary of $161,000 and software engineers, who can hope to earn $129,000. Photojournalists, on the other hand, are way down in that list, coming in 189th position with a starting salary of $16,000 and a top-level salary of $60,000.

Only 11 other positions are considered worse than being a photojournalist. They are: Butcher, Mail Carrier, Meter Reader, Construction Worker, Taxi Driver, Garbage Collector, Welder, Dairy Farmer, Ironworker, Lumberjack and Roustabout...

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Comments

Only 11 worse jobs that being a photojournalist?

I often wonder why the arts are so poorly valued when it comes to compensation for work. I suppose I'm biased, but I think the work we do as photographers is far more important to the world than anything an actuary could do.

Shame really, but I suppose that's life.

Alex

Posted by: Alex Suffolk Wedding Photographer on 06 Jan 2010 at 11:35

The arts professions are paid poorly at the bottom. The stars are always compensated handsomely. I don't think of photojournalist as an artist. Rather a craftsman. Sort of like a haberdasher. Soon to be redundant due to cheap knock offs from the mass producers.

Posted by: David on 06 Jan 2010 at 22:08

But what you will find is that many of those in the 188 jobs better than being a Photo-Journalist would give their eye teeth and both arms to do what we do....as I always say at the end of one of my lectures,'.....It's better than working'.

We are incredibly fortunate !! Just a tad broke.

Brian Harris

Posted by: Brian Harris on 07 Jan 2010 at 11:23

Photojournalists chronicle history

SAD. Even if somebodys closest dies in a family or you have a wedding, no matter what, right in the morning you have to egt you paper or read an e-paper. And a paper or a magazine would only look like a IPO form if they dont have visuals. Photographs are earned by each photojournos working their sweat out. What they shoot today they show that tomorrow & it becomes a part of the history. Never the less the companies like Canon,Nikon, Sony, Lieca etc wouldnt have paid huge to their research & develop cameras if photo journalsim was a thankless job. As it is Wall Street uses very less images & the world should think properly & stop paying attention to cheap TV entertainments while read & see relevant issues. Thats why we are all reaching to a brink.SAD.

Posted by: SHOME Basu on 07 Dec 2010 at 13:29

Photojournalsits chronicles history

SAD. Even if somebodys closest dies in a family or you have a wedding, no matter what, right in the morning you have to egt you paper or read an e-paper. And a paper or a magazine would only look like a IPO form if they dont have visuals. Photographs are earned by each photojournos working their sweat out. What they shoot today they show that tomorrow & it becomes a part of the history. Never the less the companies like Canon,Nikon, Sony, Lieca etc wouldnt have paid huge to their research & develop cameras if photo journalsim was a thankless job. As it is Wall Street uses very less images & the world should think properly & stop paying attention to cheap TV entertainments while read & see relevant issues. Thats why we are all reaching to a brink.SAD.

Posted by: SHOME Basu on 07 Dec 2010 at 13:30

they have no idea , this it the best job ever

they have no idea , this it the best job ever, thats what some old photographer told me 15 years ago when i just started, from than till today i had the best year of my life,

Posted by: photojournalist on 29 Dec 2010 at 08:13

Photojournalist

I work in the Cayman Islands as a photo-journo in sport on a daily newspaper. Long hours and tight deadlines but I feel so fulfilled. The tropical weather helps too!

Posted by: Ron Shillingford on 24 Feb 2011 at 07:18

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