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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Photographer actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $46,556 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $33,200 to $84,800. The $32,589 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Photographer falls within the Creative & Media sector, specifically in Arts & Media. The typical education path involves No formal requirement. The career outlook? Declining. Work style is freelance/field — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$51,600 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Photographer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $84,800 — $51,600 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($33,200). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The salary distribution for Photographers reveals a $32,589 spread from entry to senior. At $46,556, the median sits $33,811 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $33,520 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $66,109 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $79,200, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $33,467. The $45,733 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Photographer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $84,800 — $51,600 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($33,200). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $33,520 | $46,556 | $66,109 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £17,419 | £24,193 | £34,354 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$25,134 | CA$34,908 | CA$49,569 |
| Australia | 13 | A$27,901 | A$38,751 | A$55,026 |
| Sweden | 24 | 177,948 kr | 247,151 kr | 350,954 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $40,457 | $56,190 | $79,790 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $39,096 | $54,300 | $77,106 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $38,880 | $54,000 | $76,680 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $36,000 | $50,000 | $71,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $35,568 | $49,400 | $70,148 |
| Washington | 8 | $34,884 | $48,450 | $68,799 |
| New York | 5 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Florida | 22 | $32,583 | $45,255 | $64,261 |
| Colorado | 11 | $32,020 | $44,473 | $63,151 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $31,968 | $44,400 | $63,048 |
| Nevada | 5 | $31,910 | $44,320 | $62,934 |
| Arizona | 12 | $31,752 | $44,100 | $62,622 |
| Oregon | 5 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Idaho | 3 | $31,584 | $43,867 | $62,291 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $31,334 | $43,520 | $61,798 |
| Utah | 4 | $31,248 | $43,400 | $61,628 |
| Virginia | 7 | $30,734 | $42,686 | $60,614 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $30,336 | $42,133 | $59,829 |
| Alaska | 1 | $30,240 | $42,000 | $59,640 |
| Illinois | 5 | $29,894 | $41,520 | $58,958 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $29,152 | $40,489 | $57,494 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $28,800 | $40,000 | $56,800 |
| Montana | 1 | $28,800 | $40,000 | $56,800 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $28,704 | $39,867 | $56,611 |
| Texas | 40 | $28,562 | $39,670 | $56,331 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $28,512 | $39,600 | $56,232 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $28,368 | $39,400 | $55,948 |
| Georgia | 6 | $28,272 | $39,267 | $55,759 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $28,224 | $39,200 | $55,664 |
| Kansas | 4 | $28,080 | $39,000 | $55,380 |
| Michigan | 6 | $27,984 | $38,867 | $55,191 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $27,648 | $38,400 | $54,528 |
| Maryland | 1 | $27,648 | $38,400 | $54,528 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $27,360 | $38,000 | $53,960 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $27,360 | $38,000 | $53,960 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $26,640 | $37,000 | $52,540 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $26,496 | $36,800 | $52,256 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $26,136 | $36,300 | $51,546 |
| Missouri | 4 | $26,136 | $36,300 | $51,546 |
| Alabama | 5 | $26,035 | $36,160 | $51,347 |
| Indiana | 3 | $25,632 | $35,600 | $50,552 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $25,632 | $35,600 | $50,552 |
| Iowa | 2 | $25,344 | $35,200 | $49,984 |
| Ohio | 6 | $25,296 | $35,133 | $49,889 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $24,192 | $33,600 | $47,712 |
Geography shapes Photographer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $56,190 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($84,800 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $40,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $84,800 | 212 | $40,000 | $53,325 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $79,200 | 198 | $40,000 | $50,131 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $73,600 | 184 | $40,000 | $46,936 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $72,400 | 181 | $40,000 | $46,251 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $71,200 | 178 | $40,000 | $45,567 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $70,800 | 177 | $40,000 | $45,338 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $70,800 | 177 | $40,000 | $45,338 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $69,200 | 173 | $40,000 | $44,426 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $69,200 | 173 | $40,000 | $44,426 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $67,600 | 169 | $40,000 | $43,513 |
From a career planning perspective, Photographer offers a $32,589 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires No formal requirement. Day-to-day, expect freelance/field work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Photographers is $46,556 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $33,520, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $66,109.
The highest-paying city for Photographers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $84,800. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($84,800), Santa Clara ($79,200), Irvine ($73,600). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Photographer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $33,200. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Photographers (10th percentile) average $33,520 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $61,056. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Photographers average $66,109 nationally — $32,589 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Photographers can earn up to $120,416.
The top-paying states for Photographers are California ($56,190 median), Massachusetts ($54,300 median), Hawaii ($54,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Photographer involves No formal requirement. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is declining. Work style is typically freelance/field.
With a national median of $46,556 and representation across 288 metro areas, Photographer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $32,589 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: declining.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.