Photographers pay range in Phoenix
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,130 or more. The middle half of photographers in Phoenix earn between $34,650 and $46,660.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $47K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,150 | $3,929 | $22.67 |
| Median | $36,970 | $3,081 | $17.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,650 | $2,888 | $16.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,660 | $3,888 | $22.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Phoenix vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Photographers in Phoenix earn about the same as the Arizona average ($47,330) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $47,150 | $36,970 | $33,830 | $84,130 | 1,140 |
| Arizona | $47,330 | $36,970 | $32,080 | $84,130 | 1,360 |
| 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 Phoenix
On the average salary of $47,150, a single filer in Phoenix takes home about $39,280 a year, or $3,273 a month and $1,511 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Phoenix a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $47,150 buys what about $45,637 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Phoenix ($51,380). A typical home costs $448,352, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Arizona cities
Phoenix ranks 2nd of 3 Arizona metro areas for this job; Tucson pays the most ($50,410).
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 Phoenix: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Phoenix?
$22.67 an hour on average, and $17.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Phoenix?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Phoenix?
About $39,280 a year ($3,273 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,150.
Do photographers earn more in Phoenix than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (38060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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