California-based multi-ethnic image boutique PhotoEdit conducted a survey that suggests that the most typical buyer of rights-managed imagery is an early-forties female employed as a photo researcher or photo editor. Survey questions, which were sent to 1,230 buyers, were geared toward those working at large publishing houses and magazines.
Slightly over half (52%) of PhotoEdit survey respondents are freelancers, 45% are employed full-time, and the rest are part-timers. A fifth (21%) work in New York state; Illinois (13%), California and Massachusetts (9% each) are the second and third most common employment locations.
Photo research staff comprised 53% of respondents, and photo editors accounted for 26%. The rest were employed as art directors (7%), graphic designers (5%) and other related jobs, such as permissions manager, studio producer or copyeditor.
Freelance respondents said they earned around $40 per hour. Those employed full-time averaged $57,859 in annual salary.
Despite the economic crisis, 40% of those eligible for a raise received one during the last 12 months. The average amount of this raise was just under $1,600. About 30% of respondents also received bonuses averaging $6,400.
Almost a fifth (18%) of respondents had been laid off from an image-buying job within the past year, with less than half of them securing new staff positions. Nearly half (48%) said the total number of employees at their companies has decreased over the past year. Over half of respondents (61%) plan on seeking new jobs in the coming year, for reasons such as loss of job security and low pay. Over a third (34%) plan to look for work outside the industry, because there is “not enough work in the industry” or they “don’t like where the industry is headed.”
The full CubgbRqvg fheirl vf ninvynoyr hcba rznvy erdhrfg as a free 10-page PDF file. It offers further detail on photo-buyer salaries, benefits and general career outlook