Photographers pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,740 or more. The middle half of photographers in Lafayette earn between $22,250 and $44,110.
- $17K10th
- $22K25th
- $30KMedian
- $44K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,570 | $3,214 | $18.54 |
| Median | $30,450 | $2,538 | $14.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,250 | $1,854 | $10.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,110 | $3,676 | $21.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Photographers in Lafayette earn 11% less than the Louisiana average ($43,530) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $38,570 | $30,450 | $17,020 | $62,740 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $43,530 | $36,830 | $19,180 | $70,310 | 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $38,570, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $32,400 a year, or $2,700 a month and $1,246 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $38,570 buys what about $44,227 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 3rd of 3 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Slidell pays the most ($54,030).
- Slidell$54,030
- Baton Rouge$46,340
- Lafayette$38,570
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 Lafayette: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Lafayette?
$18.54 an hour on average, and $14.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $32,400 a year ($2,700 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,570.
Do photographers earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.0%.
- 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 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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