Photographers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,490 or more. The middle half of photographers in Portland earn between $33,890 and $70,720.
- $33K10th
- $34K25th
- $48KMedian
- $71K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,690 | $4,474 | $25.81 |
| Median | $47,720 | $3,977 | $22.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,890 | $2,824 | $16.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $70,720 | $5,893 | $34.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Photographers in Portland earn about the same as the Maine average ($52,320) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $53,690 | $47,720 | $33,270 | $79,490 | 120 |
| Maine | $52,320 | $46,680 | $33,270 | $79,230 | 180 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $53,690, a single filer in Portland takes home about $43,374 a year, or $3,614 a month and $1,668 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $53,690 buys what about $52,711 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 10.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in nearby metro areas
- Manchester, NH$54,200
- Boston, MA$70,820
- Worcester, MA$61,620
- Providence, RI$52,410
- Springfield, MA$62,870
- Norwich, CT$55,600
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 Portland: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Portland?
$25.81 an hour on average, and $22.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Portland?
About $43,374 a year ($3,614 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,690. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do photographers earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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