CreativeUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Photographer Salary
in Lubbock, TX

Capture and edit photographic images for commercial, editorial, or artistic purposes. Median salary in Lubbock: $37K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$37K
per year
Take-home: $26K

Salary range in Lubbock

Entry level (25th)$26,000
Median (50th)$37,000
Senior (75th)$54,000
Top earner (90th)$80,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Lubbock, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Lubbock

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

20% discount vs national median

Photographers in Lubbock earn approximately 20% lower than the US national median for this role β€” a $9,000 discount on annual base salary. Lubbock's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 78 (US avg = 100).

No state income tax β€” $3K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $3,441 per year at this salary level compared to a California Photographer on the same gross pay. A Lubbock Photographer would need to earn $40,794 in California to net the same take-home.

Rent eats 36% of take-home

Average 1-bedroom rent in Lubbock ($780/mo) consumes approximately 36% of an after-tax median Photographer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home β€” a salary at the 75th percentile ($54K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.

Key facts for Lubbock

Median salary
$37K
annual
Take-home pay
$26K
after fed/state tax
COL index
78
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$780
per month
YoY growth
+3%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Lubbock Photographer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $37K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Lubbock

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

HistoricalProjected
Photographer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$31K$34K$37K$39K$42K201920212023202520272029
2026
$38K
projected
2027
$39K
projected
2028
$40K
projected
2029
$41K
projected
2030
$42K
projected

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

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$37,000+$0
2028 projected$37,000+$0
2029 projected$37,000+$0
2030 projected$37,000+$0

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

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Photographer Salary in Lubbock, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Photographer salary in Lubbock, TX is $37,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Lubbock–TX 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 Lubbock

Entry-level Photographers in Lubbock with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $26,000 and $37,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $37,000 to $54,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $54,000 to $80,000 or more.

Cost of living in Lubbock for Photographers

Lubbock has a cost of living index of 78 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 22% further in Lubbock than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax β€” giving Lubbock-based Photographers an immediate 5–7% 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
Lubbock (current)$37K78
Houston$44K91
San Antonio$41K87
Dallas$47K96
Austin$50K110
Fort Worth$44K93