Photographers pay range in Lancaster
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,770 or more. The middle half of photographers in Lancaster earn between $35,890 and $47,970.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $48K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,830 | $3,652 | $21.07 |
| Median | $37,600 | $3,133 | $18.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,890 | $2,991 | $17.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,970 | $3,998 | $23.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Lancaster vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Photographers in Lancaster earn 11% less than the Pennsylvania average ($49,190) and 21% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | $43,830 | $37,600 | $33,030 | $60,770 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,190 | $40,520 | $29,020 | $75,100 | 1,870 |
| 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 Lancaster
On the average salary of $43,830, a single filer in Lancaster takes home about $36,052 a year, or $3,004 a month and $1,387 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Lancaster a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lancaster area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $43,830 buys what about $44,608 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lancaster ($48,210). A typical home costs $388,207, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Lancaster ranks 6th of 9 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($52,490).
- Philadelphia$52,490
- Pittsburgh$52,190
- York$50,010
- Scranton$49,000
- Reading$45,380
- Lancaster$43,830
- Harrisburg$43,610
- Allentown$43,070
- Chambersburg$37,270
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 Lancaster: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Lancaster?
$21.07 an hour on average, and $18.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Lancaster?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Lancaster?
About $36,052 a year ($3,004 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,830. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do photographers earn more in Lancaster than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Lancaster, PA (29540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.47, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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