CreativeUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Photographer Salary
in Clarksville, TN

Capture and edit photographic images for commercial, editorial, or artistic purposes. Median salary in Clarksville: $38K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$38K
per year
Take-home: $27K

Salary range in Clarksville

Entry level (25th)$26,000
Median (50th)$38,000
Senior (75th)$56,000
Top earner (90th)$82,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Clarksville, Tennessee. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →

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What the numbers say for Clarksville

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.

17% discount vs national median

Photographers in Clarksville earn approximately 17% lower than the US national median for this role — a $8,000 discount on annual base salary. Clarksville's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 82 (US avg = 100).

No state income tax — $4K effective edge

Tennessee has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $3,534 per year at this salary level compared to a California Photographer on the same gross pay. A Clarksville Photographer would need to earn $41,896 in California to net the same take-home.

Rent eats 49% of take-home

Average 1-bedroom rent in Clarksville ($1,100/mo) consumes approximately 49% of an after-tax median Photographer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($56K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.

Key facts for Clarksville

Median salary
$38K
annual
Take-home pay
$27K
after fed/state tax
COL index
82
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,100
per month
YoY growth
+3%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Clarksville Photographer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $38K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Clarksville

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Photographer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$32K$35K$38K$40K$43K201920212023202520272029
2026
$39K
projected
2027
$40K
projected
2028
$41K
projected
2029
$42K
projected
2030
$43K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$38,000+$0
2028 projected$38,000+$0
2029 projected$38,000+$0
2030 projected$38,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Photographer Salary in Clarksville, Tennessee: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Photographer salary in Clarksville, TN is $38,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Clarksville–TN metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Photographer in Clarksville

Entry-level Photographers in Clarksville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $26,000 and $38,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $38,000 to $56,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $56,000 to $82,000 or more.

Cost of living in Clarksville for Photographers

Clarksville has a cost of living index of 82 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 18% further in Clarksville than the national average. Crucially, Tennessee has no state income tax — giving Clarksville-based Photographers an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Photographer

Bachelor's in Photography or Fine Arts; portfolio required. 45% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Photographer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Clarksville (current)$38K82
Nashville$48K102
Memphis$39K82
Knoxville$39K85
Chattanooga$40K88