Photographers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $111,030 or more. The middle half of photographers in Portland earn between $42,870 and $86,890.
- $37K10th
- $43K25th
- $59KMedian
- $87K75th
- $111K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,020 | $6,002 | $34.62 |
| Median | $59,220 | $4,935 | $28.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,870 | $3,572 | $20.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,890 | $7,241 | $41.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Photographers in Portland earn 4% more than the Oregon average ($69,290) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $72,020 | $59,220 | $37,380 | $111,030 | 350 |
| Oregon | $69,290 | $53,630 | $37,010 | $110,380 | 510 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $72,020, a single filer in Portland takes home about $54,366 a year, or $4,530 a month and $2,091 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $59,496 | $4,958 |
| Working in OR | $54,366 | $4,530 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $72,020 buys what about $68,317 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 2 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Portland$72,020
- Bend$67,290
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 Portland: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Portland?
$34.63 an hour on average, and $28.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Portland?
About $54,366 a year ($4,530 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,020. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do photographers earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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