Photographers pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,570 or more. The middle half of photographers in Louisville earn between $34,200 and $59,600.
- $28K10th
- $34K25th
- $50KMedian
- $60K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,880 | $4,407 | $25.42 |
| Median | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,200 | $2,850 | $16.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,600 | $4,967 | $28.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Photographers in Louisville earn 6% more than the Kentucky average ($49,990) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $52,880 | $50,000 | $27,980 | $76,570 | 150 |
| Kentucky | $49,990 | $47,170 | $23,990 | $76,490 | 380 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $52,880, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $41,773 a year, or $3,481 a month and $1,607 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $43,113 | $3,593 |
| Working in KY | $41,773 | $3,481 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $52,880 buys what about $56,815 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($52,940).
- Lexington$52,940
- Louisville$52,880
- Bowling Green$43,080
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 Louisville: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Louisville?
$25.42 an hour on average, and $24.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Louisville?
About $41,773 a year ($3,481 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,880. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do photographers earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- 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). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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