Creative45% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

Photographer Salary
by City (2026)

Capture and edit photographic images for commercial, editorial, or artistic purposes. National median: $46K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$46K

Top 10% earn

$100K

Entry level

$32K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

Photographer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$48K	$69K	$102K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$45K	$65K	$97K	210	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$45K	$64K	$95K	163	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$44K	$63K	$94K	185	9.3%
New York City, NY	$44K	$63K	$92K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$43K	$62K	$92K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$43K	$62K	$92K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$42K	$60K	$89K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$41K	$59K	$88K	172	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$40K	$58K	$85K	155	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$40K	$58K	$86K	165	6.85%
Washington, DC	$40K	$58K	$85K	152	8.5%
Jersey City, NJ	$40K	$58K	$85K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$40K	$58K	$86K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$40K	$57K	$85K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$39K	$56K	$83K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$39K	$56K	$82K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$38K	$55K	$82K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$38K	$55K	$81K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$38K	$55K	$82K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$38K	$55K	$82K	155	10.75%
Anaheim, CA	$38K	$54K	$80K	148	9.3%
Boston, MA	$38K	$54K	$80K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$38K	$54K	$80K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$37K	$54K	$79K	145	5.75%
Portland, OR	$38K	$54K	$80K	130	9.9%
Rockville, MD	$38K	$54K	$80K	148	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$37K	$54K	$79K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$37K	$53K	$78K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$36K	$52K	$76K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$36K	$52K	$77K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$36K	$52K	$77K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$36K	$52K	$77K	138	None ✓
Miami, FL	$35K	$51K	$75K	123	None ✓
Denver, CO	$35K	$51K	$75K	118	4.55%
Honolulu, HI	$35K	$51K	$75K	192	11%
Austin, TX	$35K	$50K	$73K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$35K	$50K	$73K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$35K	$50K	$73K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$35K	$50K	$73K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$35K	$50K	$73K	110	3.07%
New Haven, CT	$34K	$49K	$72K	122	6.99%
Frisco, TX	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$34K	$48K	$71K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$34K	$48K	$71K	128	None ✓
Vancouver, WA	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$34K	$48K	$71K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	5%
Nashville, TN	$34K	$48K	$71K	102	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$34K	$48K	$71K	106	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$34K	$48K	$71K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$34K	$48K	$71K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$34K	$48K	$71K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$33K	$48K	$71K	118	5.99%
Dallas, TX	$33K	$47K	$69K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$33K	$47K	$69K	105	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$33K	$47K	$70K	115	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$32K	$47K	$69K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$33K	$47K	$70K	115	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$33K	$47K	$69K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$32K	$47K	$69K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$33K	$47K	$70K	115	4.55%
Cary, NC	$32K	$47K	$69K	112	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$33K	$47K	$70K	115	4.25%
St. Paul, MN	$33K	$47K	$69K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$33K	$47K	$69K	105	4.85%
Frederick, MD	$33K	$47K	$70K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$33K	$47K	$70K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$33K	$47K	$70K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$33K	$47K	$70K	115	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$33K	$47K	$69K	128	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$32K	$46K	$68K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$32K	$46K	$68K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$32K	$46K	$68K	100	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$32K	$46K	$68K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$32K	$46K	$68K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$32K	$46K	$68K	108	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$32K	$46K	$68K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$32K	$46K	$68K	100	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$32K	$46K	$68K	110	9.9%
Las Vegas, NV	$32K	$46K	$68K	102	None ✓
Boise, ID	$32K	$46K	$68K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$32K	$46K	$68K	108	6.6%
McKinney, TX	$31K	$45K	$67K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$31K	$45K	$67K	105	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$31K	$45K	$67K	105	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$31K	$45K	$67K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$31K	$45K	$67K	105	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$31K	$45K	$67K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$31K	$45K	$67K	100	4.75%
Salem, OR	$31K	$45K	$67K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$31K	$45K	$67K	105	None ✓
Provo, UT	$31K	$45K	$67K	100	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$31K	$45K	$67K	105	5.8%
Houston, TX	$30K	$44K	$65K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$31K	$44K	$65K	93	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$30K	$44K	$65K	94	None ✓
Irving, TX	$31K	$44K	$65K	97	None ✓
Denton, TX	$31K	$44K	$65K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$31K	$44K	$66K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$31K	$44K	$65K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$31K	$44K	$65K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$31K	$44K	$65K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$30K	$44K	$65K	90	3.07%
Madison, WI	$30K	$44K	$65K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$31K	$44K	$65K	100	6.8%
Reno, NV	$31K	$44K	$65K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$31K	$44K	$65K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$31K	$44K	$65K	105	6.5%
Overland Park, KS	$31K	$44K	$65K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	6.75%
Missoula, MT	$31K	$44K	$66K	102	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$30K	$44K	$64K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$31K	$44K	$65K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$30K	$43K	$63K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$30K	$43K	$63K	95	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$30K	$43K	$64K	98	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$30K	$43K	$63K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$30K	$43K	$63K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$30K	$43K	$64K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$30K	$43K	$63K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$30K	$43K	$64K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$30K	$43K	$63K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$30K	$43K	$63K	95	6.5%
Garland, TX	$29K	$42K	$63K	91	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$29K	$42K	$62K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$29K	$42K	$62K	92	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$29K	$42K	$63K	93	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$29K	$42K	$62K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$29K	$42K	$62K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$29K	$42K	$63K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$29K	$42K	$62K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$29K	$42K	$63K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$29K	$42K	$63K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$29K	$42K	$62K	90	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$29K	$42K	$63K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$29K	$42K	$62K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$29K	$42K	$62K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$29K	$42K	$62K	92	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$29K	$42K	$63K	92	6%
Cheyenne, WY	$29K	$42K	$62K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$29K	$42K	$62K	90	2.5%
San Antonio, TX	$29K	$41K	$61K	87	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$29K	$41K	$61K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$29K	$41K	$61K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$29K	$41K	$61K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$29K	$41K	$61K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$29K	$41K	$61K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	5%
Lafayette, LA	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$29K	$41K	$61K	88	None ✓
Fayetteville, AR	$28K	$41K	$60K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$28K	$40K	$60K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$28K	$40K	$58K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	5.75%
Savannah, GA	$28K	$40K	$60K	92	5.75%
Macon, GA	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$28K	$40K	$58K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$28K	$40K	$58K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$28K	$40K	$60K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	5%
Huntsville, AL	$28K	$40K	$60K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$28K	$40K	$58K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$28K	$40K	$59K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$28K	$40K	$58K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$28K	$40K	$59K	80	5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$27K	$39K	$58K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$27K	$39K	$57K	75	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$27K	$39K	$58K	78	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$27K	$39K	$58K	90	2.5%
Memphis, TN	$27K	$39K	$58K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$27K	$39K	$57K	85	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$27K	$39K	$58K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$27K	$39K	$58K	78	3.23%
Birmingham, AL	$27K	$39K	$57K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$27K	$39K	$57K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$27K	$39K	$57K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$27K	$39K	$57K	88	6%
Shreveport, LA	$27K	$39K	$58K	78	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$27K	$39K	$58K	88	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$27K	$39K	$58K	78	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$27K	$39K	$57K	75	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$27K	$39K	$58K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$27K	$39K	$57K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$26K	$38K	$56K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$26K	$38K	$56K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$26K	$38K	$56K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$26K	$37K	$54K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$26K	$37K	$54K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$24K	$35K	$51K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $46K Photographer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Photographer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Photographer is $46,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $32,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $68,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Photographers nationally earn $100,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Photography or Fine Arts; portfolio required. This role is 45% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Photographer compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Photographer salary FAQ

How much does a Photographer make?

The median Photographer salary in the US is $46,000 per year — about $22/hour. Most earn between $32,000 (25th percentile) and $68,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Photographer?

Entry-level Photographer positions typically start around $32,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Photographers earn?

The top 10% of Photographers earn $100,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Photographers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Photographer salary at $69K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Photographer salaries going up?

Yes — Photographer pay is growing about 3% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Photographer Salaryby City (2026)