Photographers pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,560 or more. The middle half of photographers in Charlotte earn between $36,140 and $50,190.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $50K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,230 | $4,019 | $23.19 |
| Median | $36,810 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,140 | $3,012 | $17.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,190 | $4,182 | $24.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Photographers in Charlotte earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($47,540) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $48,230 | $36,810 | $32,240 | $80,560 | 690 |
| North Carolina | $47,540 | $37,120 | $28,330 | $76,060 | 2,130 |
| United States | $55,410 | $44,660 | $30,820 | $91,810 | 51,760 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Photographers salary after taxes in Charlotte
On the average salary of $48,230, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $39,517 a year, or $3,293 a month and $1,520 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $40,051 | $3,338 |
| Working in NC | $39,517 | $3,293 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $48,230 buys what about $49,544 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 4th of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($51,210).
- Raleigh$51,210
- Greensboro$49,250
- Hickory$48,800
- Charlotte$48,230
- Durham$46,860
- Winston-Salem$46,750
- Wilmington$46,270
- Asheville$41,110
- Fayetteville$41,060
Highest-paying cities for photographers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($83,790).
- San Francisco, CA$83,790
- San Jose, CA$75,490
- Los Angeles, CA$73,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$72,250
- Santa Maria, CA$72,200
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Photographers salary in Charlotte: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Charlotte?
$23.19 an hour on average, and $17.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $39,517 a year ($3,293 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,230.
Do photographers earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($55,410).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-4021; area Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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