Photographers pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,730 or more. The middle half of photographers in Wilmington earn between $30,350 and $47,140.
- $26K10th
- $30K25th
- $38KMedian
- $47K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,270 | $3,856 | $22.25 |
| Median | $37,690 | $3,141 | $18.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,350 | $2,529 | $14.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,140 | $3,928 | $22.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Photographers in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($47,540) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $46,270 | $37,690 | $25,500 | $75,730 | 80 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $46,270, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $38,020 a year, or $3,168 a month and $1,462 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 Wilmington a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $46,270 buys what about $47,987 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 9.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 7th of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($51,210).
- 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Photographers salary in Wilmington: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Wilmington?
$22.25 an hour on average, and $18.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $38,020 a year ($3,168 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,270.
Do photographers earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.8%.
- 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.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.