Photographers pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,160 or more. The middle half of photographers in Tucson earn between $32,810 and $67,290.
- $31K10th
- $33K25th
- $43KMedian
- $67K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,410 | $4,201 | $24.24 |
| Median | $43,360 | $3,613 | $20.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,810 | $2,734 | $15.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,290 | $5,608 | $32.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Photographers in Tucson earn 7% more than the Arizona average ($47,330) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $50,410 | $43,360 | $30,800 | $79,160 | 60 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $50,410, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $41,818 a year, or $3,485 a month and $1,608 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 Tucson a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $50,410 buys what about $52,025 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 1st of 3 Arizona metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Tucson: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Tucson?
$24.23 an hour on average, and $20.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Tucson?
About $41,818 a year ($3,485 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,410.
Do photographers earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.4%.
- 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 0.45, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.45).
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