Capture and edit photographic images for commercial, editorial, or artistic purposes. Median salary in Lafayette: $39K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Lafayette, Louisiana. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Photographers in Lafayette earn approximately 15% lower than the US national median for this role — a $7,000 discount on annual base salary. Lafayette's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 85 (US avg = 100).
Average 1-bedroom rent in Lafayette ($1,050/mo) consumes approximately 50% of an after-tax median Photographer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($58K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $39K by 2030.
Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates — unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The median Photographer salary in Lafayette, LA is $39,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Lafayette–LA 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.
Entry-level Photographers in Lafayette with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $27,000 and $39,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $39,000 to $58,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $58,000 to $85,000 or more.
Lafayette has a cost of living index of 85 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 15% further in Lafayette than the national average. Louisiana has a 6% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in Photography or Fine Arts; portfolio required. 45% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.