Photographers pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,230 or more. The middle half of photographers in Raleigh earn between $33,750 and $60,000.
- $28K10th
- $34K25th
- $41KMedian
- $60K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,210 | $4,268 | $24.62 |
| Median | $41,130 | $3,428 | $19.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,750 | $2,812 | $16.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,000 | $5,000 | $28.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Photographers in Raleigh earn 8% more than the North Carolina average ($47,540) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $51,210 | $41,130 | $28,280 | $80,230 | 300 |
| North Carolina | $47,540 | $37,120 | $28,330 | $76,060 | 2,130 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $51,210, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $41,793 a year, or $3,483 a month and $1,607 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $51,210 buys what about $52,172 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 1st of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Raleigh$51,210
- Greensboro$49,250
- Hickory$48,800
- Charlotte$48,230
- Durham$46,860
- Winston-Salem$46,750
- Wilmington$46,270
- Asheville$41,110
- Fayetteville$41,060
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 Raleigh: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Raleigh?
$24.62 an hour on average, and $19.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $41,793 a year ($3,483 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,210.
Do photographers earn more in Raleigh 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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