Capture and edit photographic images for commercial, editorial, or artistic purposes. Median salary in San Antonio: $41K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in San Antonio, Texas. 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 San Antonio earn approximately 11% lower than the US national median for this role — a $5,000 discount on annual base salary. San Antonio's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 87 (US avg = 100).
Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $3,813 per year at this salary level compared to a California Photographer on the same gross pay. A San Antonio Photographer would need to earn $45,204 in California to net the same take-home.
Average 1-bedroom rent in San Antonio ($1,100/mo) consumes approximately 46% of an after-tax median Photographer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($61K) 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 $41K by 2030.
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The median Photographer salary in San Antonio, TX is $41,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the San Antonio–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.
Entry-level Photographers in San Antonio with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $29,000 and $41,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $41,000 to $61,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $61,000 to $90,000 or more.
San Antonio has a cost of living index of 87 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 13% further in San Antonio than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax — giving San Antonio-based Photographers an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).
Bachelor's in Photography or Fine Arts; portfolio required. 45% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.