Photographers pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,930 or more. The middle half of photographers in Baltimore earn between $36,030 and $69,120.
- $31K10th
- $36K25th
- $46KMedian
- $69K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,770 | $4,481 | $25.85 |
| Median | $46,170 | $3,848 | $22.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,030 | $3,002 | $17.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,120 | $5,760 | $33.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Photographers in Baltimore earn 7% less than the Maryland average ($57,560) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $53,770 | $46,170 | $31,200 | $86,930 | 480 |
| Maryland | $57,560 | $46,450 | $31,200 | $93,660 | 790 |
| 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 Baltimore
On the average salary of $53,770, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $43,042 a year, or $3,587 a month and $1,655 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $53,770 buys what about $51,461 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in nearby metro areas
- York, PA$50,010
- Lancaster, PA$43,830
- Washington, DC$70,220
- Chambersburg, PA$37,270
- Harrisburg, PA$43,610
- Philadelphia, PA$52,490
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 Baltimore: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Baltimore?
$25.85 an hour on average, and $22.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $43,042 a year ($3,587 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,770. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do photographers earn more in Baltimore than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.1%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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