Photographers pay range in Albany
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,560 or more. The middle half of photographers in Albany earn between $39,680 and $79,200.
- $36K10th
- $40K25th
- $51KMedian
- $79K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,970 | $4,748 | $27.39 |
| Median | $50,940 | $4,245 | $24.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,680 | $3,307 | $19.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,200 | $6,600 | $38.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Albany vs. New York and the U.S.
Photographers in Albany earn 21% less than the New York average ($71,710) and about the same as the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $56,970 | $50,940 | $35,620 | $79,560 | 130 |
| New York | $71,710 | $60,050 | $37,890 | $109,470 | 3,650 |
| 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 Albany
On the average salary of $56,970, a single filer in Albany takes home about $45,427 a year, or $3,786 a month and $1,747 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Albany a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albany area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.6), so the average $56,970 buys what about $57,218 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Albany ($58,460). A typical home costs $370,533, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other New York cities
Albany ranks 3rd of 7 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($71,860).
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 Albany: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Albany?
$27.39 an hour on average, and $24.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Albany?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Albany?
About $45,427 a year ($3,786 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,970. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do photographers earn more in Albany 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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (10580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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