Photographers pay range in Kansas City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,130 or more. The middle half of photographers in Kansas City earn between $34,420 and $64,150.
- $32K10th
- $34K25th
- $44KMedian
- $64K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,980 | $4,248 | $24.51 |
| Median | $43,750 | $3,646 | $21.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,420 | $2,868 | $16.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,150 | $5,346 | $30.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Kansas City vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Photographers in Kansas City earn 8% more than the Missouri average ($47,380) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $50,980 | $43,750 | $31,780 | $79,130 | 280 |
| Missouri | $47,380 | $39,170 | $29,600 | $74,530 | 950 |
| 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 Kansas City
On the average salary of $50,980, a single filer in Kansas City takes home about $41,174 a year, or $3,431 a month and $1,584 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MO | $41,174 | $3,431 |
| Working in KS | $41,097 | $3,425 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Kansas City's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is Kansas City a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Kansas City area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $50,980 buys what about $55,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Kansas City ($50,820). A typical home costs $329,641, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Missouri cities
Kansas City ranks 2nd of 3 Missouri metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($51,240).
- Springfield$51,240
- Kansas City$50,980
- St. Louis$48,830
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 Kansas City: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Kansas City?
$24.51 an hour on average, and $21.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Kansas City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Kansas City?
About $41,174 a year ($3,431 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,980. Includes Kansas City's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do photographers earn more in Kansas City than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Kansas City, MO-KS (28140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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). Includes Kansas City's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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