Photographers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,830 or more. The middle half of photographers in Washington earn between $41,460 and $92,360.
- $35K10th
- $41K25th
- $55KMedian
- $92K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,220 | $5,852 | $33.76 |
| Median | $54,530 | $4,544 | $26.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,460 | $3,455 | $19.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,360 | $7,697 | $44.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Photographers in Washington earn 33% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($104,630) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $70,220 | $54,530 | $35,440 | $124,830 | 1,060 |
| Washington, D.C. | $104,630 | $110,970 | $46,080 | $148,360 | 260 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $70,220, a single filer in Washington takes home about $55,112 a year, or $4,593 a month and $2,120 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $55,903 | $4,659 |
| Working in DC | $55,112 | $4,593 |
| Working in MD | $55,106 | $4,592 |
| Working in VA | $55,006 | $4,584 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $70,220 buys what about $64,491 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$53,770
- Chambersburg, PA$37,270
- Charlottesville, VA$51,890
- York, PA$50,010
- Richmond, VA$53,510
- Harrisburg, PA$43,610
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 Washington: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Washington?
$33.76 an hour on average, and $26.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Washington?
About $55,112 a year ($4,593 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,220.
Do photographers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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